An urgent statement was submitted to the House of Representatives by Egyptian MP, Asmaa al-Gammal, on Friday. The statement addresses the need for stricter regulations on ride-sharing app companies in Egypt, in light of the recent tragic death of Habiba al-Shamaa. It is worth noting that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi intervened in an attempt to save her life.
Shamaa has passed away on Thursday after being in a coma for 21 days, which resulted from her jumping out of an Uber car when the driver had attempted to kidnap her. Gammal has submitted an urgent statement to Hanafi Jabali, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The statement directs the Minister of Communications and concerned authorities to audit the operations of Uber, InDriver, DiDi, and any other new ride-hailing companies.
After several cases of harassment and kidnapping attempts, a Member of Parliament demanded that drivers undergo psychological and drug tests, and that their criminal records be reviewed. The MP criticized smart transportation companies for not adhering to the Prime Minister’s safety rules and procedures to protect passengers and citizens.
The companies should investigate drivers and conduct drug tests every three months, with license withdrawal as a consequence for non-compliance, she said. Furthermore, Gammal called on the government to review the files of periodic drug tests for all drivers working for smart transportation companies. According to regulations, each company is required to carry out this drug testing every three months from the date of the driver’s appointment.
According to her, certain companies have disregarded this protocol to cut costs. The Member of Parliament expressed her heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family of the victim, emphasizing the need for strict penalties to deter such offenses and ensure the safety of citizens who use these services.
