Media release
August 10, 2018  

The Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) is a key highlight in the Queensland calendar year, attracting on average 400,000 people from across the Sunshine State and beyond. As throngs of people make their way to the first day of the show today, the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) is encouraging everyone to grab a cab for a stress-free and convenient commute to the show.

Show goers can avoid the hassle of traffic, crowded waits for trains, the agony of searching for a parking spot and the inevitable high cost of secure parking by grabbing a cab that can take you directly to and from the action.

This year’s show sees the return of the special taxi rank conveniently located on Costin Street, which is close to Gate 1 and it will have experienced taxi supervisors marshalling cabs and assisting passengers on site from 2:00pm – 10:00pm every day with two supervisors on duty during peak times from 4:00pm-8:00pm.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies says taxis are a safer and more convenient option for those visiting from interstate or the country, as well as Brisbane locals.

“The Ekka is one of Brisbane’s biggest events. Sometimes folk travelling from outside of our city can find our congested roads confusing and intimidating at this time of year,” he said.

“And country visitors in particular need to be careful of ‘city-slickers’ with their surge pricing and their touting for fares in plain, unmarked vehicles. Taxis are a much smarter option with their calibrated taximeters and easily identifiable livery and hail lights. They are also safer because they’re fitted with sophisticated security cameras, monitored duress alarm systems and hard-wired GPS devices.

“Whether a visitor or a local, everyone grabbing a cab can be confident knowing they’re in reliable and safe hands commuting to and from the Show.”

Taxis can also pick up and drop off along O’Connell Terrace near Gate 5 and Machinery Street, near Gate 2, giving attendees greater options on getting straight to the action they want to see.

“We’re expecting the busiest times to be from 6:00pm-8:00pm so make sure you plan ahead to enjoy a quick ride to the show.

“Taxis are a perfect option for groups and families travelling together, and especially for the trip home with armfuls of showbags or after a few at the Cattleman’s Bar. Easiest of all, just wander out through Gate 1 to our taxi rank in Costin Street and jump into a waiting cab.

“Our cabbies are ready and waiting to help customers get to and from the Ekka safely and enjoyably. So take the worry out of how to get there, and just grab a cab as the smart travel option, for Queensland’s largest and most loved annual events” concluded Mr Davies.

ENDS

Media release
06 August, 2018

The growing frustration from train commuters on the lack of parking availability across South-East Queensland train stations has pushed travellers to park longer and unsafe distances from the station, forcing many to walk through dimly lit and unmarked paths to their vehicles after work. The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) says these concerns open the door for the Queensland Government to step up and put passenger safety first.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies, says there are adverse flow-on effects if passengers do not feel safe catching public transport and the Government needs to consider timely solutions now.

“With Brisbane off-street CBD parking the most expensive in the nation, people are opting to take public transport, especially trains, but there is not sufficient and safe parking spaces in close proximity to many south east Queensland train stations. Commuters and the residents in areas surrounding train stations can’t wait for more parking facilities to be developed when there’s an immediate safety problem that needs to be addressed,” Mr Davies said.

“More often than not, commuters will opt to drive to the train station to have the comfort of knowing when they return back from work, their vehicle is there to take them home safely. This crazy expectation of maintaining private vehicles to simply drive to catch public transport, is an ineffective use of a car.

“While train stations are supposed to be only 800 metres or so away from the populations they service, the reality is quite different. For many train users, the distance from home to the station is too far to comfortably and safely walk. That’s why we are hearing that at many stations, where lighting, designated pathways and security are limited, commuters are becoming increasingly frustrated and resorting to parking illegally to stay near the stations. They are literally preferring to risk a fine rather than put their own safety in jeopardy.

“We can’t have the community being forced into this kind of illegal predicament or unsafe circumstances when feeder services such as taxis could be made available 24/7 to ensure passengers get home safely.”

Mr Davies, believes the taxi network and system is an untapped resource for the Government to better service Queensland Rail’s limited car parking infrastructure at stations and the transport needs of Queenslanders.

“Taxis are an important complement to the scheduled mass transit services provided by other forms of public transport. There’s a great opportunity for the Queensland Government to better utilise taxis, a proven transportation network, to connect more people and ensure their commute is the most efficient and safe it can be.

“Taxis can take commuters directly between their front door and the nearest train station via a pooling service, to provide a safe, efficient end-to-end journey for the traveller. It’s a simple variation to the service we already provide and due to the nature of our operations, with our 24/7 availability, multi-occupancy taxis are a great way to address safety concerns and an idea the Government should consider actively exploring. Passengers would no longer have to walk through unsafe conditions to get to their private vehicles and perhaps not even bother with owning a vehicle.

“TCQ would welcome the opportunity to discuss ways to improve the safety of all Queensland commuters and to work closely with the State Government and Translink exploring different options to increase public safety with situations such as this,” concludes Mr Davies.

ENDS

Media release
26 July, 2018

The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) is calling for the Queensland Government to urgently start checking the use of cameras and other recording devices in booked-hire vehicles following an incident in the United States where a driver for an Uber type service (Lyft) was secretly recording unsuspecting passengers and then broadcasting the footage online.

Since 2005, Queensland taxis have been equipped with Government approved security cameras that take high quality images, which are encrypted and stored in tamperproof, fireproof “black boxes” inside the vehicle. It is an offence for a driver or passenger to interfere with the cameras or access the stored images. The encrypted images can be only be downloaded by an authorised officer using special hardware and software, and they can only be used for a very narrow range of purposes, such as by Police investigating an official complaint.

CEO of the TCQ, Blair Davies says the incident in the US is just one more reason for the State Government to stop standing on the sidelines and get onto the field when it comes to enforcing its law. It is illegal for a booked-hire driver in Queensland to do what the Lyft driver did in the US, but that only matters if there are enforcement officers out on the road catching the people who want to ignore such laws.

“We have been calling on the Government to get serious about protecting passengers’ safety and privacy in booked-hire vehicles for some time now,” says Mr Davies, “yet little seems to be happening.  Uber drivers in particular are regularly seen touting for cash jobs where there will potentially be no trace of the trip whatsoever if something goes wrong.

Under Queensland law, booked-hire drivers accepting payment in cash are required to have an approved security camera system fitted to their vehicle.

“Customers getting into a taxi can have confidence that there will be an approved camera system in the vehicle and that the camera is there for their safety. The cameras are highly visible and there are stickers on the doors advising about the operation of the cameras,” Mr Davies continues.

“Taxi customers don’t need to have any concerns for their privacy because the images and recordings taken by approved camera systems are encrypted and they are only available for downloading by authorised officers. The cameras in taxis make riding in a cab a lot safer for drivers and passengers.

“However, there are probably only a handful of booked-hire vehicles in Queensland that are fitted with approved camera systems. That means there is no real protection of passengers’ privacy and safety in any of the other booked-hire vehicles, either where there is no camera, or such in the US case, where the passenger is unaware of a non-approved camera.”

Under Queensland law, booked-hire drivers are only allowed to accept jobs that are dispatched to them from an Authorised Booking Entity so any form of touting is illegal.

“Our cabbies are on the road 24/7 and they are telling us that touting by booked-hire drivers is rife in Brisbane as well as other parts of the State. That means there are Queenslanders getting into vehicles and paying the driver in cash but there is no approved camera system. It’s a risky business for customers, risky business for drivers, and it’s simply unsafe for everyone. This is happening in plain sight of our cabbies so we’re asking, when are the authorities going to act?

“We view security cameras as an investment in driver and customer safety. They also protect everyone’s privacy because we understand that no image from an approved security camera has ever been used for anything other than the investigation or prosecution of offences, or suspected offences, occurring inside a taxi.

“On the other hand, anyone jumping into a booked-hire vehicle can be pretty much assured that there won’t be an approved security camera protecting their privacy and safety. Especially for the consumers accepting trips from touters, they are putting themselves wholly at the mercy of unscrupulous drivers and you don’t need to be an Einstein to know how badly that can end,” concluded Mr Davies.

ENDS

Media release
06 July, 2018

The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) has called for State Government to follow Victoria and make urgent changes to address unfairness in its Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance scheme.

Queensland taxi operators are greatly disadvantaged under the current CTP scheme, having to pay Class 3 premiums at $4,120 pa per vehicle while booked hire competitors, Uber and Ola drivers, only pay $576.20 pa for their vehicles’ (CTP Class 26). This is despite taxis and booked hire vehicles operating with similar risk profiles as they go about providing passenger transport services to their respective customers.

TCQ CEO Blair Davies says Queensland has been left behind by the other states, principally Victoria but also New South Wales, when it comes to establishing a level playing field for all competitors in the Personalised Transport market. Local Queensland businesses in the taxi industry cannot afford to wait while our Government sits on its hands on the issue and the Government’s approach of creating a new CTP class, Class 26, for booked hire vehicles last year isn’t working to promote a level playing field.

“Under the current Queensland CTP scheme, taxis are paying a far higher CTP premium than all other operators in the personalised transport sector. We’re operating with almost identical risks to booked hire vehicles, so there should be no reason why our operators should be forking out more,” said Mr Davies.

“We have ordinary Queenslanders in family-run businesses who have invested their life savings into making taxi services available for their communities and now they’re struggling to keep those businesses on the road. When they are hit with a common renewal date for Rego and CTP, they can be up for tens of thousands of dollars that they simply cannot afford and that their competitors don’t have to pay.

“We’ve already seen one large taxi operator go into bankruptcy and more will likely hit the wall unless the Queensland the Government doesn’t act urgently to fix the current CTP scheme for the personalised transport sector.  If the Victorian Government can put taxis, limousines and booked hire vehicles all on a premium of $510.40 pa in Melbourne, and $396 pa in regional areas, from July 1, what’s stopping the Queensland Government from doing something similar?”

As of July 1, the Victorian state Government dropped premiums from $2,586 pa to $510.40 pa for Melbourne taxi, limousine and booked hire operators and from $1,289 pa to $396 pa for regional operators to level the playing field for all competitors in the sector. Earlier this year, the NSW Government reduced taxi premiums by an average of 40 per cent and it is moving to premiums based on kilometres travelled.

“It’s not a level playing field when a small business taxi operator has to pay thousands more per vehicle for CTP than their competitors running booked-hire vehicles. Queensland’s CTP scheme isn’t keeping up with the realities of life in the personalised transport sector. The Government has to take responsibility for the unfairness in the regulated scheme, own the problem, and commit to fixing it.”

Mr Davies said with more booked-hire providers looking to enter Queensland, time has run out for the Government on CTP. It needs to catch up to the Southern States and remove the regulatory distortion in the scheme that is badly disadvantaging Queensland taxi operators.

“TCQ isn’t objecting to competition in the personalised transport market, we’re simply calling for a level playing field for all businesses operating in the sector. There is a huge disparity between the premiums taxis are forced to pay versus booked-hire vehicles and that has got to stop, and stop now, not sometime next year or the year after,” concluded Mr Davies.

ENDS

Media release
29 June, 2018

With the number of booked-hire vehicles in Brisbane more than triple the number of taxis, and the prospect of some very large new entrants about to launch, the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) is calling on the State Government to urgently address problems for driver viability and road safety created by the oversupply of booked-hire services.

The surplus of booked-hire vehicles places a massive strain on the traffic flow system as they circle South East Queensland roads waiting and competing for their next fare. Under the pressure to make a living, booked-hire drivers are engaging in dangerous on-road manoeuvres, they’re stopping illegally to pick-up or set-down passengers where it is not safe to do so, and they are putting other road users at risk.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies said the saturated personalised transport market was compromising the safety and efficiency of Queensland roads and degrading services for the community.

“With this flood of booked-hire drivers on the road, it’s become a dog-eat-dog environment. The Government flung open the doors and now public safety is being put at risk as too many booked hire drivers resort to cutting corners in order to make a living in such a competitive market,” said Mr Davies.

“We’re seeing more and more of these booked hire vehicles just adding to the congestion problem that already clogs our roads. The problem is exacerbated as these vehicles engage in dangerous parking manoeuvres, as well as by their passengers getting in and out of vehicles in unsafe locations.

“Everyone wants our roads to be safer and work more efficiently. The Government needs to step in to ensure all drivers in the personalised transport sector can remain viable.”

With booked-hire goliaths such as Ola, Taxify and DiDi following Uber into Queensland, Mr Davies says unchecked growth in supply will become a giant problem for all drivers in the personalised transport sector.

“One of the troubles with the Uber model is that they sign up as many drivers as they can get, but the demand for their service doesn’t grow at even nearly the same rate. The cake just keeps getting cut into smaller and smaller slices to the point where their drivers are cannot make a decent living,” he said.

“We know from our experience in the taxi industry that as times get tougher and tougher for drivers their discipline and attention to service and safety start to drop away. It is really no surprise that we are hearing more and more reports of Uber drivers taking passengers the long way, charging bogus soiling fees, and using other scams to rip-off customers.

“There are no winners in this sort of market other than the foreign platforms themselves. Drivers lose out as they’re always chasing the next fare rather than making money and getting ahead. The Queensland community loses out as well as everyone deals with greater congestion, unsafe driving, and the risk of being ripped off by desperate booked hire drivers.

“The Queensland Government should follow New York in considering a cap on the number of booked-hire vehicles operating on our roads as a means to mitigate congestion, improve passenger and other road users’ safety and ensure the viability of personalised transport sector drivers,” concludes Mr Davies.
ENDS

Media release
22 June, 2018

“You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot help the poor by destroying the right.” These words by Abraham Lincoln were shared by Don Roberson as an encouragement to all to as they look towards the future – as relevant today as when they were first uttered.

A mix of sorrow and appreciation fills the hearts of the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) today as we farewell Don, a life member of the Council, who’s devotion to working to improve the taxi industry for owners, drivers and customers and 100 percent dedication to his role as President from 1976 to 1991, remains an inspiration to all. His efforts truly helped guide and soar the industry through both changing and challenging times.

Don joined in the taxi industry in 1964 with the purchase of his first license for a yellow EH Holden. Don was chairman of the Yellow Owners committee for many years and his outstanding service was recognised by TCQ through bestowal of its highest honour, a life membership in 1989. In his time as TCQ President, Don oversaw the development of policies and change that positioned the industry for growth and prosperity.

Don led the industry’s charge on a range of important matters, including examining Government legislation, promoting driver safety, improving standards of service and encouraging better driver-passenger relationships. He supported members through tough times including low fare takings and allegations of driver attacks on passengers and was a steady and reliable voice for the industry whenever needed.

Current TCQ President, Max McBride attributes much of the strength and progressiveness of the Queensland taxi industry today to Don’s leadership, guidance and devotion over 31 years in the industry.

“During his period as President, Don’s position was never challenged or questioned, and this is a clear testimony in the eyes of his peers to his approach to representing the owners and drivers in dealings with the Government and promoting the viability of our industry,” said Max McBride.

“Don’s commitment and love of the industry was evident to all and he has surely and deeply left a bright legacy behind.”

Outside of the industry, Don was a very family oriented man, married to his beautiful wife Rita for 65 years, and he is survived by his three children, nine grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Don enjoyed golfing, fishing and travelling in Australia, with one of his most memorable trips being a safari to the Gulf of Carpentaria with a group of friends, where he caught bream and crabs and enjoyed the incredible number of Australian tourists basking in what our amazing country has to offer.

The memory of Don’s commitment, life and light will live on with us. Thank you Don for everything you have done for the Taxi Council of Queensland, for the industry and for the community.

ENDS

Media Release
4/6/2018

Following the announcement of the Palaszczuk Government’s focus on the dangers of driver distraction and improving road safety for all Queenslanders, the Taxi of Council Queensland (TCQ) is calling for stronger action to deal with drivers in the personalised transport sector who use mobile phones while driving.

In 2017, 248 fatalities occurred on Queensland roads with 27 attributed to driver distraction such as the use of electronic and mobile devices while driving. These figures only reflect the worst-case scenarios and they don’t paint the full picture of the many pedestrians and road users injured by vehicles driven by distracted drivers.

Queensland taxis are equipped with purpose designed and built, high-tech mobile dispatch terminals (MDTs). MDTs are fixed in positions where they do not obstruct the driver’s vision and taxi drivers are trained in how to safely interact with MDTs without them causing distraction.

In comparison, booked-hire drivers rely solely on ordinary smartphones to receive jobs, find customers and interact with their platform provider. Booked ride drivers are consequently under enormous commercial pressure to interact with their phones, much of the time being while they are driving.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies said the personal injuries and lives lost because of distracted drivers may be a reality but that doesn’t mean as a community we should be accepting it.

“It’s not OK to crash into someone because you were busy with your mobile phone,” said Mr Davies. “With the flood of booked-hire vehicles operating on Queensland roads, the problem of driver distraction is only going to get worse if the State Government doesn’t act and act quickly.

“While some booked-hire drivers may use hands free technology, more needs to be done by the Government to stop those who flout the laws and use mobile phones while driving. It’s time that we call out driver distraction from mobile phones for what it is, completely unacceptable and irresponsible risk taking resulting in Queenslanders needlessly dying or suffering serious injuries.”

It is illegal for any driver to use mobile devices in hand while the vehicle is in motion or stationary with the engine on, yet 75 per cent of Queensland drivers admit to doing so.

Mr Davies says a level playing field for all drivers in the personalised transport sector is key to ensuring passengers have access to safe and reliable transport. There should be zero tolerance for booked-hire drivers and taxi drivers misusing their mobile phones while driving.

“Safety is a top priority for the taxi industry,” said Mr Davies.

“Our purpose designed MDTs and the training we provide to taxi drivers to use them is our investment in our drivers’ and passengers’ safety.

“We have no issues with competitors that operate within the personalised transport sector, but they should be held to the same standards as taxis when public safety is at risk.

“There is always the opportunity for the sector to improve the safety of all Queenslanders on the road and TCQ will look to work closely with the State Government, QPS and regulators to ensure we have safer roads for all.”
ENDS

Media release
4 May, 2018
​

​The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) is challenging last month’s decision by Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads to grant Taxify Australia Pty Ltd (Taxify) a Booking Entity Authorisation (BEA), arguing there is a clear breach of the regulations and the decision opens the door for other booked-hired businesses to disregard any rules that they may not like .

The Government’s legislation makes it illegal for non-taxi operators to use the word ‘taxi’ or ‘cab’ in promotional materials or advertising unless a taxi is the vehicle providing the service. Taxify is a booked hire service and it does not dispatch trips to taxis.

TCQ CEO Blair Davies believes Taxify, which also trades as TAXIFY OU, is deliberately mocking the Government as well as the taxi industry.

“To dispatch taxis or booked hire vehicles in Queensland, the regulations require companies to be authorised BEAs. Taxify applied for BEA status using the name “TAXIFY OU’ which looks a lot like ‘Taxi F… You’,” said Mr Davies.

“The Transport Department should be making Taxify do what UberCab had to do back in 2010 when it wanted to start operating in San Francisco. It wasn’t allowed to use the word ‘cab’ in its name because it wasn’t dispatching trips to bona fide taxis and so it rebranded its operations as just Uber. Taxify needs to do the same.

“TCQ is not objecting to a new competitor entering the personalised transport market, we are simply asking the Government to hold everybody in the sector accountable to the rules that it created. If the Transport Department is going to allow one competitor to blatantly mock a regulation and disregard it, it opens the door for others to do the same.”

TCQ’s concerns about Taxify being given BEA status are not restricted to it illegally using the word ‘taxi’ in its name. In September last year, Taxify’s operations in London were shut down with reports suggesting the company had tried to operate without securing the necessary licenses.

“Taxify is yet another global behemoth that wants to make money in Queensland,” says Mr Davies. “The Government opened the door for them with its regulatory changes and so it now needs to step up to the challenge of keeping these companies from running amuck.

“TCQ is calling on the Government to say to Taxify and others like them that Queensland is a great place, but if you want to come here, you must play by our rules and if they don’t the Government needs to slam the brakes on them right from the get go.

“Granting BEA status to a foreign controlled company is like a license for them to make money out of Queenslanders. It’s a privilege and not a right.

“The Government can’t have the Transport Department handing out BEA status to companies that show they want to misrepresent the types of services they provide or that don’t take safety and other regulatory requirements seriously,” concludes Mr Davies.

Media release
27 April, 2018

The inundation of booked-hire vehicles on Brisbane and Gold Coast roads is resulting in mounting congestion and other traffic problems across CBD areas and inner city suburbs. Hundreds, and at times possibly thousands, of booked-hire vehicles are cruising around South East Queensland streets while waiting for their next fare, causing a massive strain on the traffic flow system.

The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) is urging authorities to protect the safety of passengers and other road users by imposing stronger penalties on booked-hire vehicles that make dangerous manoeuvrers and stop to pick-up or set-down their clients illegally.

Booked-hire vehicles are not allowed to use taxi ranks under the Government’s new regulations because the space is too limited. Instead, booked-hired vehicles have access to more than 155 loading zones to pick up and drop off their passengers in the Brisbane CBD, so there is no reason for drivers to stop illegally, hold up traffic, or have passengers entering and exiting their vehicles in unsafe locations.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies, says the unchecked growth and evidently negative impact of booked-hire vehicles on our roads is a “wake up call” for Government and has called for stronger enforcement by Police and Transport Department officers.

“Legalising booked-hire services has turned over our city streets to be run by people in the gig economy for their own profit at the expense of other road users,” said Mr Davies.

“Congestion is just the tip of the iceberg. Other unwanted consequences include dangerous parking manoeuvres and passengers getting in and out of vehicles in unsafe locations, both of which put passengers’ and other road users’ safety at greater risk.

“Passenger safety should always be put first and authorities need to do more to ensure booked hire drivers obey the law when operating on our roads.”

Booked-hired service, Uber, claims to have more than 11,000 drivers in Brisbane compared to the 3,100 taxis operating across the whole of Queensland. With booked-hire operators such as Ola and Taxify eyeing Brisbane as one of their next markets to enter, concerns of further traffic woes are imminent.

“The situation can surely only get worse as more operators enter the market,” predicts Mr Davies. “Brisbane should follow New York in considering a cap on the number of booked-hire vehicles operating on our roads as a means to mitigate congestion.

“While we welcome competition, more needs to be done by the Government to improve the safety and efficiency of Queensland roads. Everyone in the personalised transport sector should be held to the same standards as the taxi industry when passenger and public safety is at risk. The last thing we want is to see Queensland drivers and commuters lose out in the end as global operators pump more and more cars onto our roads,” concludes Mr Davies.
ENDS

Media release
April 16, 2018

The Road Safety Manual for the Taxi Industry, developed by QUT’s Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q) has just been released and aims to develop a standardised safe driving guide for taxi operators, owners and drivers.

The report is the result of months of work on the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) funded project called Reducing the Crash Involvement of Taxis in Queensland: Situational Analysis and Crash and Exposure Analyses.

The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) and our members actively participated in the development of the Manual in a bid to help deliver a new, coordinated approach to driver safety and highlight the key hazards and risks affecting the industry.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies, said the industry’s approach to safety has always been to push to higher standards.

“The safety of our operators, owners, drivers and passengers is of utmost importance and TCQ’s support of this manual reinforces this,” Mr Davies said.

“With some 3,200 taxis operating on Queensland roads 24/7, and moving up to 90 million people per year, improving safety in the taxi industry is a big deal.

“A standardised safety-related framework such as The Road Safety Manual for the Taxi Industry aims to provide the industry with a number of strategies that taxi operators and drivers can adopt to ensure a safer industry as a whole.”

CARRS-Q Senior researcher Amanda Evenhuis said the manual highlights some examples of the key hazards and risks facing the industry and provides some risk management ideas that could be adopted to make the industry safer.

“While our previous research found examples of initiatives to improve road safety within the Queensland taxi industry, an overarching coordinated, strategic approach was lacking,” Ms Evenhuis said.

“The most common factors associated with a higher risk of crashes for taxi drivers are gender (mostly men), age (25-49), driver distraction, vehicle condition, road conditions, organisational culture, high mileage and time pressure.

“Driver distraction or inattention has been found to be a contributing factor of 78 per cent of all crashes and 65 per cent of near crashes by taxi drivers and other drivers. Fatigue is another danger area that can impact on drivers’ mental and physical capacities.”

The Road Safety Manual for the Taxi Industry covers six main sections with a seventh revision process covering:

• Systematic nature of work driving safety
• Legislative obligations
• Core safety elements
• Steps towards improving driving safety of taxis
• Post incident management and investigation
• Continuous improvement
• Reassess management of taxi industry risks

Each section provides a series of actions or questions taxi drivers, owners and operators can consider in a bid to help them understand the potential risks and formulate a management plan relevant to their own operations.

The Road Safety Manual for the Taxi Industry is available to download here.
https://eprints.qut.edu.au/117485/1/__qut.edu.au_documents_StaffHome_StaffGroupe%24_evenhuis_Desktop_Road%20safety%20manual%20for%20the%20taxi%20industry.NAV.pdf
ENDS