Taxi drivers want more surveillance

By Colin Cosier

The State Government’s new taxi security-camera standards don’t protect drivers, says the Australian Taxi Drivers Association.

From July, Transport NSW will require all new taxis to install security cameras meeting new operating standards.

ATDA president, Michael Jools, says the change would result in more fare evasions and more assaults on taxi drivers.

“I believe that the new specifications are totally inadequate. To take only one shot every 10 seconds is absolutely inadequate and crazy,” Mr Jools said.

“An awful lot can happen in 10 seconds.”

The new standards will require taxis to have one internal camera recording an image every 10 seconds in normal mode and an image every one second when the driver’s alarm is activated.

The ATDA has asked Transport NSW to require four external and two internal cameras, and a dashboard screen displaying the internal pictures.

“We also think from the other point of view that there probably should be a panic button for the passenger,” Mr Jools said.

A spokesperson for the Transport Minister, John Robertson, said the new requirements have increased security standards and will make taxis safer.

“The standards were developed in consultation with the industry, including drivers,” the spokesperson said.

St George Cabs General Manager, Ron Haile, says the standards are adequate.

“In 10 seconds quite a bit can happen but what we’re looking for is to identify the guy who is doing it and an image every 10 seconds will certainly do that for you,” Mr Haile said.

The new standards represent the minimum operating requirements but the ATDA believes taxi networks will not invest in security systems that exceed those requirements.

The ATDA wants an internal camera recording continuous video and audio in every cab.

But Mr Haile says this is excessive.

“Your problem is storing all those images,” he said.

Sydney taxi driver Amrinder Singh, 23, wants continuous video recording instead of the photo system in his taxi.

“If someone is doing something wrong then you can see exactly what happened,” he said.

Taxi driver Peter Allis, 57, is indifferent.

“What is the difference if it takes a photo every second or not if you can’t catch them?” Mr Allis said.

“The one I got now, I don’t know how many [images] it takes.”

Current urban taxis will not have to upgrade until mid-2015.

Last year, 360 crimes committed in taxis were reported to police in New South Wales.