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Blue Bubble urges Government to not step back from safety


Blue Bubble urges Government to not step back from safety in the taxi industry


Today Blue Bubble Alliance Ltd, New Zealand’s largest taxi company, appeared before the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee urging the Government not to compromise safety in the taxi industry.

In its submission on the Land Transport Amendment Bill, Chief Executive Bob Wilkinson told the Committee that Blue Bubble supports the Government’s commitment to a modern small passenger services industry, with a level playing field.

“Blue Bubble has embraced new technology as part of the continuous development of our business model. This is not new for us, and we welcome competition and innovation.

“However, at the heart of the transport sector needs to be the safety and protection of New Zealanders. That is why we are concerned that there may be unintended consequences with some of the proposed amendments.

“We urge the Government to not throw the baby out with the bathwater,” says Wilkinson.

Blue Bubble made a number of recommendations to the Committee, including:
· Retain the ‘fit and proper person’ vetting process
· Retain NZQA Unit Standard 24089 that requires drivers to demonstrate knowledge of fatigue management and log books
· Maintain the requirement for drivers to have proficiency of the English language
· Mandatory in-vehicle security cameras, with very limited exemptions
· An additional offence that can see a vehicle impounded for operating an unlicensed or non-compliant small passenger service vehicle service.

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“We strongly support the retention of the ‘fit and proper person’ vetting process,” says Wilkinson. “As Transport Minister Hon Simon Bridges has said, without the P Endorsement we do not have an assurance of safety, and that’s simply not good enough.

“The paramount reason for a basic understanding of the English language is driver safety. We know that drivers with poor English language skills are the drivers most at risk from passenger assault.

“The Government’s proposal that security cameras are not mandatory in all small passenger service vehicles is inconsistent and against the global trend of increasing use of cameras for enforcement and public safety.

“Since the installation of security cameras, there have been no further taxi driver fatalities in New Zealand. In that time the cost of cameras has also greatly reduced.

“As a New Zealand company we comply with the legislation and rules that govern our industry, however we know that other companies break legislation in New Zealand and other jurisdictions. Unless we act, this will continue to happen.

“Including an offence of using a vehicle to operate an unlicensed or non-compliant small passenger service vehicle service, and the threat of vehicle impounding is crucial to enforcing minimum standards and protecting the public.

“We welcome change, but now is not the time to step back from safety. Reducing regulation that ensures public and driver safety will result in a loss of public confidence in the safety of small passenger services.

“I want to operate in an industry where there is appropriate regulation to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers. To put it simply, I do not want to attend more funerals of our drivers.”

ends

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