Ross Smaill and Anthony Ware, of City United Taxis Dunedin, have driven taxis for a combined 34 years and say they feel safer than ever behind the wheel.
''You know you're protected,'' Mr Smaill said.
The issue of taxi drivers' safety arose after the 2010 murder of Auckland taxi driver Hiren Mohini.
On August 1, 2011, all taxis operating within New Zealand major urban centres were required to have video cameras installed.
Mr Ware said he had been using a fake camera for years before the new legislation came in.
''It was a good deterrent,'' he said.
''All it was was a flashing red light but it worked wonders.''
Police had twice requested camera footage from City United Taxis Dunedin this year and it had helped solve crimes, Mr Ware said.
His camera had helped catch a man who had vandalised his taxi in Mosgiel about four months ago, he said.
''I got $1700 [reparation] and he got three months in jail.''
New Zealand Taxi Federation executive director Roger Heale said the cameras gave drivers peace of mind.
''Every driver has the ability to record if he thinks things are getting out of hand,'' he said.
''It's a safety net ...if something goes wrong you have video footage that can back it up.
''There has been a decrease in violent crimes towards taxi drivers. It has dropped about 50%.''
Mr Smaill said the cameras had another, less-expected benefit.
''Some people pretended that they're making movies ... they're having fun but they're not vandalising the cabs.''
-by Alastair Lynne
