Edition 49, September 2007

Improving safety for Victorian taxi drivers

The Victorian Taxi Safety Strategy has been released to boost safety for Victoria's taxi drivers.

More than 45 million passengers travel in taxis across Victoria each year and it is important that the journey is safe for both the passenger and the driver.

A Taxi Industry Safety Taskforce was established in August last year to determine ways to help improve the safety of taxi drivers. Over the past 12 months, this taskforce has worked closely with the taxi industry to develop a range of initiatives designed specifically to address this issue.

The Victorian Taxi Safety Strategy aims not only to reduce the risk of incidents between drivers and passengers, but to provide education and support to drivers.

Over the next 18 months the strategy will implement:

1. Improved driver education: Commencing in January 2008, a new component of the Taxi Driver Training Course will be developed and introduced specifically aimed at preventing and dealing with violent confrontation.

2. Safe city taxi ranks: Three new safe city taxi ranks will be introduced in Richmond, St Kilda and Bendigo. The safe ranks will be staffed by security personnel in peak times and provide a safe environment for passengers and drivers. These ranks will begin operation from late 2007.

3. Development of specifications for the next generation of taxi cameras: These new cameras will be progressively phased in from January 2009.

4. Research and development of an improved driver protection screen: An extended trial of the new design of screen will commence in 2009.

5. Taxi driver safety pack: All active taxi drivers will be sent a package of safety related material. This will include a driver safety card and the Taxi Driver Safety handbook.

6. Victims of crime information: Information and advice will be supplied to drivers on statewide victims of crime support services.

7. A safer workplace: A program of education and awareness around occupational health & safety requirements for taxi drivers, operators and networks. The program is being developed by the Victorian WorkCover Authority, with the first stage to be delivered this month.

8. Ongoing taxi driver support and representation: The Victorian Taxi Directorate will continue to provide support to the Victorian Taxi Drivers Association as a forum for taxi drivers to discuss and voice issues in the industry.

For more information visit www.taxi.vic.gov.au

This page was generated on 18 February, 2010