Denmark’s transport minister, Signe Munk (SF), says she is willing to examine whether rules for Flextrafik operators should be tightened, after DR documented drivers watching TV while carrying passengers.
The public broadcaster’s consumer program Kontant released the episode “Flextrafik på slingrekurs” on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. DR reports that it obtained access to complaints filed with Danish trafikselskaber, the regional transport companies that coordinate the service.
The material includes examples of drivers watching TV while transporting citizens, and cases where passengers were injured after problems with securing wheelchairs. Flextrafik carries citizens with disabilities, among other groups, and is put out to tender by the trafikselskaber to private operators known as vognmænd.
Trine Wollenberg, deputy director of the trade association Dansk Persontransport, tells Kontant that it is very easy to start driving Flextrafik, even without strong qualifications. According to her, a new operator needs to post a guarantee of 40,000 kroner and obtain a permit from the Færdselsstyrelsen before bidding for contracts.
Rasmus Bach Mandø, director of FynBus, which coordinates Flextrafik on Funen, acknowledges to DR that the road to a flex contract is too short. Tim Vermund, chair of Trafikselskaberne i Danmark and a Social Democratic city councillor in Odense, writes to Kontant that the companies are seeing more operators without the necessary qualifications.
The umbrella organization therefore wants the law changed so that a vognmandsuddannelse, a formal operator training course, again becomes a requirement before bidding on flex contracts. Vermund states that legal changes and stronger official supervision are needed, even though the companies are strengthening their own efforts.
Trafikselskaberne i Danmark says it is unhappy with the cases DR found, but maintains that the general picture is one of skilled drivers and high customer satisfaction. The Færdselsstyrelsen writes to Kontant that it works within the political and legislative framework it has been given, and that driving is governed by tender contracts between trafikselskaber and operators. The agency adds that it continuously checks compliance with the taxilov using a risk based approach.
Munk, who took office as transport minister in June 2026, writes to Kontant that she is willing to look at whether the rules can be tightened. She also stresses that the trafikselskaber have a responsibility to use existing rules to ensure operators meet basic standards of sound business operation.
The debate follows earlier cases in the sector. BT reports that the flex company Reliable lost all 125 of its licences for commercial passenger transport, and that Munk considers the problems extensive enough to weigh legal changes and tighter supervision. TV 2 Fyn reported in July 2026 that the minister said flex traffic cannot continue as it is now.
Formal training requirements were relaxed last year. As noted by DTL, the mandatory qualification course for certain chauffeurs, including self driving operators, was abolished on October 1, 2025, leaving only a required test.
