Taxi industry crackdown heralds improvements in safety

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A New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) crackdown on the Auckland taxi industry has resulted in significant improvements in vehicle and driver safety in the city, the agency says.

In 2007, nine out of 10 taxis were found to have faults - mostly to do with steering, breaks or suspension. That reduced to one out of 10 in 2010, NZTA said in a statement today.

There was also a 43 per cent reduction in vehicle crashes involving taxis and a 60 per cent drop taxi-related complaints.

The improvements have come after teams of taxi enforcements officers were introduced in Auckland and Wellington. They inspect taxis day and night and issue warning and infringement notices where necessary.

Enforcement officers had also been working with taxi company managers, explaining the rules and how they should be applied, NZTA said.

Andy Thackwray, manager of NZTA's taxi regulations group Access and Use, said the impact on the industry was felt almost immediately.

"The industry has certainly responded positively to our efforts to raise standards, and the evidence is clear that compliance, and in particular safety standards, has improved," Mr Thackwray said.

The industry would be under intense scrutiny during the Rugby World Cup, he said.

"One of the first impressions of New Zealand for the many fans arriving at Auckland International Airport will be hopping into a taxi - the chances are now better that the taxi will be safe and clean."

On average, companies now operate at a compliance level of 79 per cent, compared to 58 per cent recorded a year ago, NZTA said.

- NZPA