Safe Taxi System (STS): a new paradigm for safety and modernization of taxi services in Cape Verde

Decree-Law No. 9/2026, which approves the Integrated Communication and Safety System for Taxis, known as the Safe Taxi System (STS), was published in Official Gazette No. 15, Series I, on February 9, 2026.

This decree-law comes into force on the day following its publication and is part of the State’s internal security policy, within the scope of the Safe City project, under the management of the National Police (PN).

In practice, this law responds to very specific situations in the daily lives of taxi drivers and passengers, often reported in the course of their work, such as assaults, robberies, medical emergencies, accidents in isolated areas, or requests for help that require a rapid response from the authorities.

Thus, the STS was designed precisely to respond to these real scenarios, through simple but legally structured technological means.

Furthermore, this legal regime arises as a response to the particular vulnerability of taxi drivers, resulting from the characteristics of their activity, which is carried out in public spaces, often at night and with direct contact with strangers.

The legislator recognizes that these circumstances expose taxi drivers and passengers to increased risks of violence, crime, and other emergency situations, justifying the adoption of specific legal and technological measures.

Under Decree-Law No. 9/2026, the STS’s main objectives are:

• Prevent violence and crime against taxi drivers and their passengers;
• Ensure a rapid, effective, and proportionate response to emergency situations;
• Strengthen coordination between the individual public transport sector and the National Police;
• Modernize the taxi service, adapting it to current technological requirements.

In addition, the system is based on principles of interoperability, technological neutrality, and open membership, allowing for the integration of all taxi vehicles, provided that the equipment installed complies with technical specifications and is duly approved.

It should be noted that the law itself expressly establishes several legal mechanisms that allow for responses to specific situations in the daily routine of taxi activity, reinforcing its practical usefulness and preventive scope.

The STS is based on an integrated architecture, essentially composed of two fundamental pillars:

Public Alarm Center (CPA)

The CPA is located in the National Police Command Centers and is responsible for receiving, processing, and managing, in real time, alerts issued from taxis participating in the system. It has technological tools that enable it to:

• Georeferencing and accurate location of vehicles in emergency situations;
• Tracking the taxi’s route, whether it is stationary or moving;
• Voice and video communication with the vehicle interior;
• The recording and logging of communications made.

This direct link allows the National Police to assess the degree of risk of the incident more accurately and to adapt the human and material resources to be mobilized, particularly in situations of assault, threat, kidnapping, serious accident, or medical emergency, as provided for in Articles 3 and 4 of the law.

Mobile units installed in taxis

The Mobile Units, to be installed in taxis that join the STS, include a set of essential features, namely:

• Taximeter, for calculating fares and issuing invoices;
• Order management and fleet geolocation applications;
• Emergency communication systems;
• Digital cameras, sound recording equipment, and S.O.S. emergency button.

The system also allows for the connection of Taxi Service Mediation Centers, provided that they are legally authorized and technically prepared to maintain permanent contact with the National Police, under the terms of Article 3, paragraphs 5 to 7.

The STS legal regime establishes a set of clear obligations associated with membership, as well as relevant legal consequences in the event of non-compliance, reflecting a logic of effective accountability for operators in the sector.

Membership of the STS is legally relevant and implies strict compliance with the technical and operational standards established in the legislation.

During the first and second phases of implementation, the State assumes the costs related to the acquisition, initial installation, and operation of the Mobile Units and associated equipment. At the end of this period, taxi owners become responsible for the maintenance, upkeep, and eventual replacement of the equipment, ensuring its correct functioning.

The law also stipulates that owners who do not join the STS within one year of its implementation are required to install minimum alternative safety devices, such as a radio with access to the National Police or an external SOS signaling system, associated with electronic means of payment, under penalty of not being licensed or losing their permit.

In addition, repeated malfunctioning, alteration of technical specifications, or tampering with equipment may lead to termination of the connection to the STS, automatic suspension of the license and public transport permit, and possible civil or criminal liability, as expressly provided for in Article 10, paragraphs 2 and 3.

In addition, Decree-Law No. 9/2026 also makes the second amendment to the General Legal Regime for Motor Vehicle Transport, now expressly allowing: Conventional taximeters; and Taximeters integrated into Mobile Units, with additional features for order management, fleet geolocation, and emergency communication.

This amendment represents a significant update to the legal framework, bringing it into line with technological developments and new safety requirements in the individual public transport sector.

6. Phased implementation and training actions

The implementation of the STS will be gradual and phased, with the preliminary phase covering the city of Praia and the islands of Santiago, São Vicente, and Sal, and the second phase covering the remaining islands of the country.

At the same time, the National Police will promote information and training activities, in coordination with local authorities and representative associations in the sector, with a special focus on digital literacy and the correct use of STS equipment and procedures.

In view of the above, the mechanisms provided for in Articles 3 to 6 (communication, geolocation, and real-time response), Article 9 (membership and charges), and Article 10 (maintenance and penalties) demonstrate that the STS was designed to respond, as mentioned above, to real situations in the exercise of taxi activity, such as assaults, accidents, medical emergencies, or other serious incidents, reinforcing prevention and the authorities’ capacity to intervene.

Thus, the STS constitutes a significant milestone in the modernization of the taxi service in Cape Verde, combining technological innovation, crime prevention, and the reinforcement of public safety.

In addition to protecting drivers and passengers, the STS contributes to the professionalization of the sector and increases citizens’ confidence in individual public transport.

From a legal point of view, the law reveals a balanced approach between the role of the State, the responsibility of operators, and the use of technology as an instrument of security and public interest, establishing itself as a decisive step towards a safer, more modern, and more efficient transport system.