The Danish Road Traffic Authority, Færdselsstyrelsen, is tightening its control of drivers and companies in the taxi and flextrafik sectors. The move follows revelations about unsafe driving in DR’s investigative program “Kontant”.
Færdselsstyrelsen announced the stricter practice on August 25, 2026, in a news release titled “Skærpet praksis”. DR reports that authorities will keep closer watch on drivers and businesses working in the taxi industry and in flextrafik, the publicly funded transport service for elderly and disabled passengers.
According to the authority, it will apply a more consistent assessment of whether drivers, companies and responsible managers meet the conditions for obtaining or keeping driver cards, permits and approvals. Færdselsstyrelsen states that companies which do not follow the rules should be identified and sanctioned far faster than at present.
What the program showed
The DR program, broadcast under the title “Flextrafik på slingrekurs”, documented drivers watching television while transporting passengers. Citizens also described feeling unsafe during their journeys, and in several cases passengers were injured after problems with securing them during transport.
Færdselsstyrelsen says it will now look at whether individuals or companies have previously committed legal violations when assessing permits and approvals. The authority also plans to strengthen cooperation with the police, the tax authorities and the regional public transport companies, the trafikselskaber. Per the release, this should give the authority access to more knowledge and data about actors whose activities are considered doubtful.
The industry organization Trafikselskaberne said in connection with the Kontant broadcast that it was sorry about the examples shown. The organization maintained that the general picture of flextrafik is one of skilled drivers and very high customer satisfaction.
Sector pressure before the announcement
Færdselsstyrelsen links the tightened practice to a risk-based supervision model, under which companies showing indications of non-compliance are prioritized for inspection. The authority introduced risk-based inspections for holders of community licences under the goods and bus transport rules from January 1, 2026.
Earlier in August 2026, Trafikselskaberne i Danmark, 3F, Dansk PersonTransport, Dansk Erhverv and DI Transport issued a joint call for tougher rules and control of publicly funded person transport. As stated by Dansk PersonTransport, the organizations set out four proposals, including stricter good repute requirements, better registration of flextrafik journeys, tighter rules for dispatch centers and the reintroduction of mandatory operator training.
Ekstra Bladet, citing reporting from TV 2 Fyn, covered industry and union demands for an end to criminals behind the wheel in flextrafik, including a crackdown on false self-employment. The outlet noted that the Ministry of Transport said a process was already under way to strengthen Færdselsstyrelsen’s supervision of operators.
Flextrafik driver conduct has drawn attention before, and road safety figures remain a recurring subject of official monitoring.
