Click photo to enlarge
Dunedin taxi driver John Gordon supports the use of alarms
in taxis but believes other measures will do little to
combat violence. Photo by Jane Dawber.
A Dunedin taxi firm may introduce an alarm system for its
cabs voluntarily, while the Government considers mandatory
measures in the wake of a taxi driver's slaying in Auckland.
United Taxis manager Ross Overton said even before the fatal
stabbing of Auckland taxi driver Herin Mohini last month, he
was already considering fitting the company's 30-strong fleet
with alarm buttons.
Mr Overton could recall only one attack on a United Taxis
driver, two years ago, when a female driver was attacked for
withholding alcohol from passengers who could not pay their
fare.
The woman had not driven taxis since, for both physical and
psychological reasons, he said. Drivers were urged not to be
"Mr Tough Guy" if they had a difficult passenger, and not to
confront customers over fares.
The company was investigating alarm system costs, but was
waiting for a Government decision before deciding how to
proceed.
An alarm system would not push up fares, Mr Overton said.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce yesterday indicated cameras
in cabs were the most likely measure to be introduced, but
safety screens separating drivers from passengers and duress
alarms were being considered.
Mr Overton disliked both cameras and safety screens.
Cameras helped police to prosecute offenders through
identification, and screening the driver from their passenger
was "claustrophobic" and made the driver's job harder.
United Taxis driver John Gordon did not like the idea of
screens, as a big part of the job was chatting to passengers,
most of whom posed no risk.
Screens were unpopular with Australian taxi drivers when
introduced there, he said.
He liked the idea of alarms, as they meant help could be sent
to a cab immediately.
In Dunedin, trouble with passengers amounted mostly to a few
abusive drunks, Mr Gordon said.
He ordered anyone who was rude out of his cab.
Mosgiel Combined Taxi owner Dinah Harrington did not support
mandatory measures.
She said it should be up to individual drivers whether they
adopted safety measures.
Problem passengers were not common in Dunedin.
However, if drivers did not like the look of a prospective
casual customer, they would not pick them up, she said.
New Zealand Taxi Federation Otago representative and Dunedin
Taxis driver Bill Collie said he did not think most Dunedin
firms would spend money on security measures in cabs unless
compelled to do so.
Taxi drivers in Dunedin were far less likely to face violence
than drivers in other centres.
- Eileen Goodwin
