Turkey’s Interior Ministry limits number of taxis in big cities by 50%

Taxis will now be allowed out in traffic every other day in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara starting March 30, Turkey’s Interior Ministry said March 29. Taxis with license plates that end in an odd number will be allowed in traffic on the first day of the rule, while taxis with license plates that end in even numbers will be allowed in traffic the next, effectively cutting the number of taxis in traffic by half.

Monday March 30 2020 11:58 am

Duvar English

Taxis in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir will only be allowed to work every other day starting March 30, the Interior Ministry said, in an attempt to limit human contact to slow down the spread of Covid-19 that’s killed over 131 people and infected thousands in Turkey as of March 29.

“On the first day, March 30, taxis with license plates that end in an odd number will be allowed in traffic. After March 30 at midnight, taxis with license plates that end in even numbers will be allowed to work,” the official Interior Ministry statement said.

Yarından itibaren İstanbul’da "Ticari Taksilerin" trafiğe çıkışlarında plakasının son hanesine göre sınırlamaya gidilecektir.

Bu gece 00.00’dan yarın akşam 23.59’a kadar plakasının son rakamı tek olanlar, belirtilen saatten sonra rakamı çift olanlar trafiğe çıkabilecektir.? pic.twitter.com/NmyMFGIMf3
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) March 29, 2020

The system will continue to allow taxis out in traffic according to the last number of their license plates: Allowing odd numbers out in traffic one day and even ones the next, effectively halving the number of taxis out in traffic on any given day.

The main mode by which the coronavirus is spread is human contact, the statement noted, adding that the measure aims to encourage social isolation.

While the decision only targets three major provinces in Turkey, other cities’ governors are welcome to take precautions in line with the ministry’s ruling, the statement added.