VTC or taxi drivers convicted for sexist or sexual reasons will no longer be able to practice

A highly symbolic announcement, on the eve of the international day against violence against women. This Friday, Clément Beaune brought together the committee to combat sexual and gender-based violence in transport. The opportunity to unveil several measures aimed at protecting French or foreign women wishing to take a taxi or a VTC in complete safety, while several scandals in the past have highlighted shortcomings.

First, starting next year, the government wants to introduce “training on sexual or gender-based violence” to the examination of drivers, in order to make them aware of this scourge. Drivers already in place will also be able to have access to it, thanks to continuing training.

At the same time, two additional measures aim to exclude anyone at risk from this profession. Upstream, any person who has been convicted of gender-based or sexual violence will be excluded from access to the profession of driver. Downstream, any driver convicted while already working will be excluded from the profession, “with an accelerated system”, specified the delegate minister.

These announcements took place as the government launched a major communications campaign this Friday against sexual violence in transport. Present at Saint-Lazare station in Paris, the Prime Minister indicated that this system, which will last one month, “responds to an alarming observation: almost all women [...] declare having suffered verbal or verbal attacks physical attacks in public transport, [...] whistling, insults, even sexual assault or even rape. A “totally unacceptable” situation, criticized Elisabeth Borne. Called “against the aggressors, let's raise our eyes”, the campaign must therefore encourage each user to be attentive to their accomplices, to react in the event of aggression. “We target those who harass, and we mobilize witnesses,” summarized Clément Beaune.

The delegate minister had also promised “very firm” actions to taxis and VTCs, to limit the risks as much as possible for users of these modes of transport. These aim to respond to several scandals involving drivers, accused of violence, even rape. A phenomenon visible for several years: in 2019, a campaign