The actions of those taxi companies complaining about new safety regulations are short-sighted in the extreme.
As of yesterday, taxis in cities and towns including Wanganui, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Dunedin and Queenstown are required to have working security camera systems and must run a 24-hour call centre.
In the wake of the
earthquakes, taxi companies in Christchurch have been given longer to comply.
Anecdotal evidence suggests a rise in the number of attacks on taxi drivers in recent years.
So logic would suggest this move would be welcome by taxi companies, and the people who work for them.
But no.
Already there have been complaints about the cost of installing the system, and one Auckland taxi driver, who asked not to be named, went public this week with concerns that the cameras would do nothing to change the behaviour of people who had been drinking.
On the face of it, the driver probably has a point.
The cameras are designed to act as a deterrent, to reinforce to anyone tempted to do a runner from their taxi or take a swing at the driver, that the chances are good they will get caught.
But to reach that conclusion, the intoxicated taxi patron needs to exercise a degree of logical thought.
And, as history tells us, people heavily under the influence of alcohol rarely think logically.
Nevertheless, this is no reason for the cameras not to be installed.
Much like CCTV cameras set up in public areas, cameras in taxis are not a magic "cure all". Drunken idiots will still make stupid decisions, regardless of the prospect of being recorded in the process.
But if the presence of cameras helps prevent even one violent confrontation, then they have proved their worth.
The cameras cost about $1000 each, and the cost is paid by the driver or their employer - it's undoubtedly another unwanted expense during tough financial times, but those criticising the cost need to take a wider view.
The cameras should make being a taxi driver a safer occupation, which will help companies retain staff.
In most cases, these companies will pass the cost on to the consumer.
Again, this may be met with disapproval by some.
But the cameras, and the accompanying higher taxi fares, are just symptomatic of our increasingly-violent society. It's bad enough it's come to this.
But another dead or seriously injured taxi driver would be much worse.
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