FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
If you can't find the answer you are looking for, contact info@nswtaxi.org.au or fax us on 02 9360 1675.
In determining the number of licences to be released in 2010/2011, the Director-General must take into account the following factors:
For future years, the number of new licences released in Sydney will vary according to changes in factors that are part of the formula. Announcements will be made during March of the number to be released during the following year.
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Q: If a PASSENGER IS INJURED whilst getting into or out of my taxi, is this covered by the Compulsory Third Party (CTP) green slip insurance?
The short answer is no. If a person is injured whilst the taxi is not moving (and no other vehicle is involved) then the CTP Policy does not provide cover. Cover for this type of injury can only be provided by General Liability Insurance (sometimes know as Public Liability Insurance) which is usually offered as an option with the Third Party Property Damage policy that is also compulsory for taxis.
There was a case where a passenger received a needle stick injury in a taxi and if that taxi operator had not had General Liability Cover the incident would have cost them hundreds-of-thousands of dollars. Injury risks can arise from passengers’ fingers getting caught in doors or the boot lid falling on their head whilst unloading luggage for instance. General Liability Insurance is not expensive and for less than $200 per year can save you from a potentially very large claims.
There was a case where a passenger received a needle stick injury in a taxi and if that taxi operator had not had General Liability Cover the incident would have cost them hundreds-of-thousands of dollars. Injury risks can arise from passengers’ fingers getting caught in doors or the boot lid falling on their head whilst unloading luggage for instance. General Liability Insurance is not expensive and for less than $200 per year can save you from a potentially very large claims.
Q: As a WATS OPERATOR, what are my licence conditions?
Operators of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis (WAT) are reminded that WAT licences are issued for the purpose of providing services to people who travel in wheelchairs. Where a WAT licence is not being used for this purpose the NSW Transport & Infrastructure can and does take action.
NSW Transport & Infrastucture conducts ongoing monitoring of all WAT licences to identify the levels of wheelchair accessible taxi work undertaken and compliance with the licence conditions. This ongoing monitoring consists of an analysis of the data provided by the Zero200 Booking Service and the dockets submitted for reimbursement from the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme.
The Manager of Licencing and Accreditation will issue a Show Cause notice to operators where analysis of the available data identifies that a licence is ranked in the bottom 15% of all WAT licences in relation to both (a) the number of hirings accepted through the Zero200 Booking Service; and, (b) the number of Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme dockets submitted.
The Notice to Show Cause invites the taxi operator to make submissions to the Manager, Licensing and Accreditation as to why action should not be taken against the WAT licence. This action can range from a variation of the licence to a suspension or cancellation of the licence.
After 21 days (or sooner if a submission is received earlier than that) a decision will be made about the WAT licence. If there is no reply or if the submissions do not provide sufficient reasons and evidence to prevent the decision being made, the licence may be suspended, varied or cancelled.
Operating 10 hours per day 7 days per week, NSW Transport & Infrastructure has informed the NSW Taxi Council that 2 short-term WAT licences were not renewed recently because the previous licences were not being used for the required 10 hours per day, 7 days per week as required in the licence conditions.
Q: I am a country operator and I don’t want to change my METER TO THE NEW RATE, I want to keep the old rate. Do I have to have my meter changed?
Yes. The regulations require you to display the current fare label and the meter must agree with that. But, you don’t have to charge the maximum fare. It is probably to your advantage to let the meter run at the highest allowable rate and then offer your customer a discount. This will drive the message home to your customer much more efficiently.
Q: How does MULTIPLE HIRING work?
Multiple hiring is when two or more hirers use the same taxi at the same time.
Multiple hiring is used during the peak periods when demand exceeds supply. It is the most efficient way to get people to their destination in the shortest possible time.
Because the hirers are giving up their exclusive use of the taxi, the fare is discounted for each hirer.
There is no rule about when multiple hiring applies, but it shoudl only be used when there are more passengers than there are taxis available.
Multiple hirings must start at the same time and all hirers must be travelling to destinations in the same general direction.
The maximum fare that can be charged to each hirer is 75% of the standard authorised fare for the hirer's section of the journey.
For example a passenger and her friend hire a taxi from Terminal 2 at Sydney Airport and want to go to Circular Quay. The woman agrees to allow the taxi driver to multiple hire and a gentleman going to Central Railway gets into the cab. On arrival at Central Railway, the driver stops the meter. Just say the total fare is $24, the driver charges the man $18 which is 75% of $24. The driver restarts the meter and takes the woman and her friend to Circular Quay, whereupon the total fare is $36 and the woman is charged $27 which is 75% of $36.
Multiple hiring is used during the peak periods when demand exceeds supply. It is the most efficient way to get people to their destination in the shortest possible time.
Because the hirers are giving up their exclusive use of the taxi, the fare is discounted for each hirer.
There is no rule about when multiple hiring applies, but it shoudl only be used when there are more passengers than there are taxis available.
Multiple hirings must start at the same time and all hirers must be travelling to destinations in the same general direction.
The maximum fare that can be charged to each hirer is 75% of the standard authorised fare for the hirer's section of the journey.
For example a passenger and her friend hire a taxi from Terminal 2 at Sydney Airport and want to go to Circular Quay. The woman agrees to allow the taxi driver to multiple hire and a gentleman going to Central Railway gets into the cab. On arrival at Central Railway, the driver stops the meter. Just say the total fare is $24, the driver charges the man $18 which is 75% of $24. The driver restarts the meter and takes the woman and her friend to Circular Quay, whereupon the total fare is $36 and the woman is charged $27 which is 75% of $36.
Q: How do I use an eTicket?
There is a new TAXI eTICKET in circulation.
It features a perforated strip so the ticket can be torn in two – allowing a receipt for the passenger and a record for the driver.
See page 25 of METER April-May 2010 for details.
It features a perforated strip so the ticket can be torn in two – allowing a receipt for the passenger and a record for the driver.
See page 25 of METER April-May 2010 for details.
Q: What arrangements are there for taxi services for people travelling in WHEELCHAIRS?
The NSW Taxi Industry was the first mode of public transport to offer services for people who travel in wheelchairs.
Wheelchair Accessible Taxis (WATs) require a number of adjustments to a regular taxi to ensure the safety of the passenger during the journey – as such they cost the owner up to three times the price of a regular cab. Despite this there is an extensive fleet on the road and the taxi networks pool resources to ensure passengers have access to the entire fleet.
It is better to phone for a WAT rather than relying on your ability to hail one off the street.
Sydney’s taxi networks provide an integrated and easy-to-use service to book a cab for a passenger in a wheelchair. This ensures that no matter which network you contact, combined resources will locate the closest available Wheelchair Accessible Taxi (WAT).
The centralised booking number 8332 0200 receives around 2,000 bookings each week, which is in addition to anyprivate weekly bookings. Despite this demand, more than 93% of bookings are dispatched within 30 minutes, and the average pickup time for a WATs passenger is similar to that for a passenger in a regular taxi.
WATs drivers have received additional training beyond that of regular drivers, which gives them the knowledge they require to assist passengers into and out of the taxi as well as during the journey.
WATs drivers have received additional training beyond that of regular drivers, which gives them the knowledge they require to assist passengers into and out of the taxi as well as during the journey.
Q: Do the new laws on CHILD RESTRAINTS apply to taxis?
New laws came into effect in NSW on 1 March which impact on the manner in which children who are seven years and younger travel in cars and taxis.
In terms of the responsibilities for taxi drivers there is very little change. Children under 6 months must be in a rearward facing restraint and children 6 months or older but less than 12 months must be in either a rearward facing restraint or a forward facing restraint with in-built harness. The same rules apply to all vehicles on the road.
In taxis, children 12 months or older but under 16 years old must be either on a booster seat and use a seat belt or must use a suitable seat belt. This is different to the rules for non-taxi vehicles, and justifiable because it is impractical for taxis to carry multiple seats for children as it would significantly reduce the space for luggage or reduce the access to taxis for families. It is also customary for most parents to carry their own seats for the children.
There are also some changes in relation to children sitting in the front seat, so that no passenger under the age of 4 years may sit in the front seat; and no passenger under the age of 7 years may sit in the front seat, unless the back seats are also occupied by children under 7 years.
While Victoria and Queensland have already announced similar changes to their child restraint laws, NSW remains the only jurisdiction where 10% of the fleet is required to carry baby capsules.
The Government has announced a transition period up until July 2010, for people to familiarise themselves with the new laws. Police will not issue penalty notices relating to the new child restraint laws in this period.
In terms of the responsibilities for taxi drivers there is very little change. Children under 6 months must be in a rearward facing restraint and children 6 months or older but less than 12 months must be in either a rearward facing restraint or a forward facing restraint with in-built harness. The same rules apply to all vehicles on the road.
In taxis, children 12 months or older but under 16 years old must be either on a booster seat and use a seat belt or must use a suitable seat belt. This is different to the rules for non-taxi vehicles, and justifiable because it is impractical for taxis to carry multiple seats for children as it would significantly reduce the space for luggage or reduce the access to taxis for families. It is also customary for most parents to carry their own seats for the children.
There are also some changes in relation to children sitting in the front seat, so that no passenger under the age of 4 years may sit in the front seat; and no passenger under the age of 7 years may sit in the front seat, unless the back seats are also occupied by children under 7 years.
While Victoria and Queensland have already announced similar changes to their child restraint laws, NSW remains the only jurisdiction where 10% of the fleet is required to carry baby capsules.
The Government has announced a transition period up until July 2010, for people to familiarise themselves with the new laws. Police will not issue penalty notices relating to the new child restraint laws in this period.
Q: What is the TRANSPORT SUBSIDY SCHEME (TTSS)?
The NSW Government’s TTSS system provides for a discount of 50% off the metered fare to a maximum of $30 for eligible passengers with disabilities. The maximum of $30 applies to all fares of $60 or more.
In order to be eligible for fare assistance under TTSS the disability must be severe and permanent and come within the following categories of eligible disabilities:
In order to be eligible for fare assistance under TTSS the disability must be severe and permanent and come within the following categories of eligible disabilities:
- Permanent inability to walk.
- Total and permanent dependence on a wheelchair.
- Severe mobility problems which require the permanent use of complex walking aids or constant assistance of another person.
- Total loss of vision or severely impaired sight.
- Severe and uncontrollable epilepsy.
- Severe intellectual disability causing social unacceptable behaviour or requiring constant assistance on public transport.
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Q: The NSW Government recently invited tenders for 100 NEW TAXI LICENCES in Sydney. Is this going to happen every year?
During December 2009, amendments were made to the Passenger Transport Act that require the Director-General of Transport to determine the number of new annually renewable (10 year) licences to be issued in Sydney. The recent release of 100 licences was a part of the transition to the new system.
In determining the number of licences to be released in 2010/2011, the Director-General must take into account the following factors:
- The performance of existing taxi-cab services.
- The demand for new taxi-cab licences.
- The viability and sustainability of the Industry.
- Any other matters the Director-General considers relevant, having regard to the objective of ensuring improved taxi-cab services.
T&I recently released a discussion paper that looked at various ways the Government can measure changes in these factors and invited public comment. The end result is likely to be a formula based on some of the Industry’s key performance indicators such as how long it takes for passengers to be picked up as well as measures of growth such as the number of passengers that come through Sydney Airport and general economic or population growth.
For future years, the number of new licences released in Sydney will vary according to changes in factors that are part of the formula. Announcements will be made during March of the number to be released during the following year.
Q: What rights do PASSENGERS have when travelling in a taxi?
Q: Is it illegal for both the operator and the taxi driver to have an arrangement where the driver takes the taxi for a week or other extended period?
An operator would be in breach of their Vehicle Roadworthiness and Assurance Plan if they are not inspecting the taxi themselves and reviewing drivers worksheets after each shift and hence would be putting their operator accreditation at risk as well as facing fines.
NSW Transport & Infrastructure says that a taxi driver who has the vehicle on a weekly lease arrangement would be regarding as operating the taxi and unless they have operator accreditation could face a $110,000 fine.
NSW Transport & Infrastructure says that a taxi driver who has the vehicle on a weekly lease arrangement would be regarding as operating the taxi and unless they have operator accreditation could face a $110,000 fine.
PASSENGER FEEDBACK
Feedback is used to ensure we continue to raise standards and continue to lead the world in providing a quality taxi service.
If you have any suggestions, compliments or complaints please phone the Feedback line on 1800 648 478 or go to the Transport Infoline taxi service feedback page to submit comments.
You will need the taxi's number plate number or the driver's number, the taxi network, and the time and date of your journey. Another reason to always keep the printed receipt.
Alternatively, you can contact info@nswtaxi.org.au or fax us on 02 9360 1675.
Feedback is used to ensure we continue to raise standards and continue to lead the world in providing a quality taxi service.
If you have any suggestions, compliments or complaints please phone the Feedback line on 1800 648 478 or go to the Transport Infoline taxi service feedback page to submit comments.
You will need the taxi's number plate number or the driver's number, the taxi network, and the time and date of your journey. Another reason to always keep the printed receipt.
Alternatively, you can contact info@nswtaxi.org.au or fax us on 02 9360 1675.