Taxi firms with GPS may swerve new laws

Taxi companies with GPS (Global Positioning Systems) may be exempt from proposed new laws which threaten to axe taxi drivers who can't understand English or know where their passengers want to go.

The proposed changes mean taxi drivers would have to sit more stringent area knowledge and English language tests, enforceable under the new Land Transport Amendment Act.

Taxi drivers who don't make the grade would be taken off the road.

The legislation, passed last year by Parliament, followed complaints about taxi drivers' abilities.

However, New Zealand Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish told NZPA companies with GPS may be exempt from the area testing provisions, as the drivers would have all the information in their cabs and at their disposal.

Mr Reddish said the organisation had lobbied for the proposed changes, which it believed had been necessary to make the industry "more professional" since being de-regulated in 1989.

The new Land Transport Amendment Act provides for the development of an "Operator Licensing Rule" on English language and area knowledge, which is expected to be released for public consultation in February.

Mr Reddish expected the rule could come into force later this year, possibly by September.

Currently, taxi companies are responsible for ensuring their drivers have both English and area knowledge, but Mr Reddish said the companies' compliance was not monitored effectively.

Taxi companies will be responsible for making sure their drivers meet the necessary standards and will be audited by Land Transport New Zealand (LTNZ) for compliance.

LTNZ spokesman Andy Knackstedt said he believed it was more likely the rules would come into force in 2007 rather than later this year.

Another change in the pipeline will mean taxi companies will not be able to set up shop with near identical livery to other more established companies.

"It's basically just recognising that those companies have earned their positions in the industry and it's not fair that someone can come along and basically be a clone," Mr Knackstedt said.

"It's also protecting passengers because if you're a passenger you may not look that closely and you may think this is company A when in reality it's company X."

Mr Knackstedt said it was unlikely that all current drivers would be tested retrospectively, but if there was reason to doubt their competence -- such as a complaint being received -- they could have to re-sit their tests.

- NZPA