CAIRO: "It's safe, we can start now, whispered Zakaria on the phone before he started the engine of his tuk-tuk. For the past few months, the 16-year-old has been earning his living driving passengers around in his three-wheel vehicle, weaving through Imbaba's main streets and intricate network of alleys. But now tuk-tuk drivers like Zakaraia find themselves in precarious situation. Cairo and Giza traffic police departments have recently confiscated hundreds of these vehicles allegedly to curb crimes and accidents cause by the abundance of these tuk-tuks. There are about 100,000 tuk-tuk drivers in Cairo and Giza, the majority of whom are underage, according to news reports. In spite of problems with police, these young drivers continue to work undeterred in large numbers in several popular districts like Imbaba, Warak and Bulaq as well as in others scattered around Giza. Yet the transport authority does not consider tuk-tuks to be "regular vehicles and hence has neither registered or licensed them. "However, we have to remain alert for any police campaign, says Maher Mahmoud, 15, another tuk-tuk driver. "If any vehicle is seized there is no hope it will ever be returned, he added. The drivers depend on tuk-tuks as their only means of livelihood, thus confiscation means they can't put bread on the table, nor pay their monthly installments or rent value for their vehicles. Zakaria pays LE 80 in rent for a 12-hour shift on the tuk-tuk. "Another driver uses it for the night shift. It's worth the cost and effort, because we can make twice as much in one shift. We charge users LE 1, 2 or 5, all according to distance, added Zakaria The confiscation campaigns led rights organizations to accuse the traffic authorities of toying with the lives of these impoverished tuk-tuk owners, some of whom may face jail if they fail to pay their installments. Rumor has it that there was a deal between heavyweight businessmen who imported tuk-tuks and key official who allegedly turned a blind eye their legal standing to ensure the importers made profit. "That they have remained silent about it all these years is a different question, noted Shafik Homos, an Imbaba microbus driver. "But I don't really believe that all these owners have been harmed. Some of them own three or four vehicles on which they employ young school dropouts, he added. Homos said that many of the drivers are drug addicts, "and going by the number of accidents caused by the tuk-tuk during the last few months, immediate measures have to be taken. On Nov.10 some 370 vehicles were impounded in both Cairo and Giza when more than 1,500 accidents and cases involving thefts and killings were reported to the police. "I witnessed one accident, said Hamdy Mohamed, a shop-assistant at El Mataba area, Maadi. "This was two weeks ago near Hadayek El Maadi metro station. The vehicle overturned and the woman inside it was killed. The driver escaped and couldn't be found. Exasperated police officials said that the majority of those drivers carry have no identification cards or drivers licenses and most of the accidents remain unaccounted for. They argue that if the tuk-tuk owners are losing, officials also have to consider the human losses incurred as a result of these accidents. Ali Abu El Kheir, another Imbaba-driver, said, "In rural areas the communities are smaller and it's easy to identify those drivers. But in urban communities, where it is difficult to identify the drivers, "the situation of tuk-tuks has to be legalized, especially in Cairo and Giza that are already burdened by a major traffic problems. However, a report by The Egyptian Democratic Institute highlighted that security is not the authorities' main concern. The institute accused both the Giza and Cairo governorates of making profit out of confiscating tuk-tuks. In addition to the traffic fines that reach up to LE 500, the report says the vehicle owners are forced to make "donations to the officials. To avoid problems, some governorates decided to license the tuk-tuk through local councils. When the traffic departments had initially refused to license it arguing it is a three-wheel vehicle, the local councils allowed it to move only within the limits of the various districts. Traffic authorities in these governorates still maintain their refusal to license tuk-tuks. "Now many of the tuk-tuks in Qalubia, Sharqia and Gharbia carry the license of their respective local councils, said Abu El Kheir. "The driver pays pay a fine of LE 1,000 upon first violation. The second time it is confiscated and won't be returned. But drivers have their ways of getting them back. Local councils all over the country now face a different dilemma: a large number of the young drivers are applying for tuk-tuk licenses, an easy option for a lot of unemployed people. But their applications are often turned down. Awlad El Ard, a local human rights association, reported that 300 tuk-tuk drivers protested in Mahala after their respective councils refused to issue licenses for their vehicles. It is a different situation when it comes to Cairo and Giza, which have continuous traffic problems. Contacting the local council of North Giza, an official who refused to disclose his name said that no decision has been taken as yet with regard to the future of the tuk-tuk. Legislation regarding the tuk-tuk is currently being discussed at the People's Assembly, according to local press. In spite of the crisis, the small vehicle remains the handiest in poor districts. The 50 piaster fee is most suitable for low-income groups who find it more than burdensome to walk long distance from metro stations and main streets to their homes, often located within the narrow alleys of densely populated areas.
