Alarms backed for city taxis

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