Post by Cullyn Of Cerrmor on Jan 4, 2009 9:12:29 GMT 9.5
Cabbies work 24-hour shifts
Paul Bibby | January 4, 2009
Busy during the holiday season … a taxi rank in Market Street.
Photo: James Brickwood
TAXI drivers are putting passengers' lives at risk by working up to 24 hours straight to cash in on popular holidays such as New Year's Eve and Australia Day.
In a breach of regulations described by NSW Transport Minister David Campbell as "dangerous and plain stupid", some drivers are pushing through fatigue at a time when the city's roads are at their most crowded.
Drivers spoken to by The Sun-Herald on New Year's Day said they could make more than $1000 a shift by working 24 hours from 3pm with little more than an hour's break.
The NSW Taxi Council said the maximum shift length for taxi drivers, under Ministry of Transport regulations, is 12 hours.
Tariq, 28, was still working at 10am, having worked all afternoon and night the day before, when The Sun-Herald got into his city-bound taxi.
"About 50 per cent of drivers will work more than 12 hours, especially the young guys who are really keen, really want the money," said Tariq, who asked that his surname not be used.
"It's not good. I know it's not safe but it's only one or two nights a year. What are you going to do? There's not much money in this job. You have to make it when you can. People have family, mortgage - if you can make $1000 it's a big Christmas present."
Drivers must keep a log showing their start and finish times, which are subject to random on-the-spot checks by uniformed and plain-clothes department officers.
"For most taxis, the contract is 12 hours - companies or drivers only hire a plate from the Government for use 12 hours at a time," Taxi Council spokeswoman Tracey Cain said.
"I'd be very surprised if drivers are working more than 12 hours."
Drivers said they falsely filled out their log books to fool inspectors, often with the permission of the taxi's owner.
"The owner doesn't care - he gets a cut of every dollar you make, so the longer you work the more money he gets," said George, a driver with 30 years' experience.
"New Year's Eve, Australia Day, Melbourne Cup - some of these guys only work 50 shifts a year but they work right through the big holidays so they make the money they need. If you get caught you can lose your licence but how likely is it that you get caught?"
The president of the Australasian College of Road Safety, Lauchlan McIntosh, said the community would benefit from all commercial drivers, including taxi drivers, being required to log into an electronic monitoring service that tracked their start and finish times, location and even speed.
"It's not only the drivers who are at risk from this behaviour but also the customer and other road users," Mr McIntosh said.
"There's a lot of research to show that fatigue leads to loss of concentration, and loss of concentration leads to driving mistakes and accidents. People have to recognise that there is an ethical responsibility to other people on the road."
Paul Bibby | January 4, 2009
Busy during the holiday season … a taxi rank in Market Street.
Photo: James Brickwood
TAXI drivers are putting passengers' lives at risk by working up to 24 hours straight to cash in on popular holidays such as New Year's Eve and Australia Day.
In a breach of regulations described by NSW Transport Minister David Campbell as "dangerous and plain stupid", some drivers are pushing through fatigue at a time when the city's roads are at their most crowded.
Drivers spoken to by The Sun-Herald on New Year's Day said they could make more than $1000 a shift by working 24 hours from 3pm with little more than an hour's break.
The NSW Taxi Council said the maximum shift length for taxi drivers, under Ministry of Transport regulations, is 12 hours.
Tariq, 28, was still working at 10am, having worked all afternoon and night the day before, when The Sun-Herald got into his city-bound taxi.
"About 50 per cent of drivers will work more than 12 hours, especially the young guys who are really keen, really want the money," said Tariq, who asked that his surname not be used.
"It's not good. I know it's not safe but it's only one or two nights a year. What are you going to do? There's not much money in this job. You have to make it when you can. People have family, mortgage - if you can make $1000 it's a big Christmas present."
Drivers must keep a log showing their start and finish times, which are subject to random on-the-spot checks by uniformed and plain-clothes department officers.
"For most taxis, the contract is 12 hours - companies or drivers only hire a plate from the Government for use 12 hours at a time," Taxi Council spokeswoman Tracey Cain said.
"I'd be very surprised if drivers are working more than 12 hours."
Drivers said they falsely filled out their log books to fool inspectors, often with the permission of the taxi's owner.
"The owner doesn't care - he gets a cut of every dollar you make, so the longer you work the more money he gets," said George, a driver with 30 years' experience.
"New Year's Eve, Australia Day, Melbourne Cup - some of these guys only work 50 shifts a year but they work right through the big holidays so they make the money they need. If you get caught you can lose your licence but how likely is it that you get caught?"
The president of the Australasian College of Road Safety, Lauchlan McIntosh, said the community would benefit from all commercial drivers, including taxi drivers, being required to log into an electronic monitoring service that tracked their start and finish times, location and even speed.
"It's not only the drivers who are at risk from this behaviour but also the customer and other road users," Mr McIntosh said.
"There's a lot of research to show that fatigue leads to loss of concentration, and loss of concentration leads to driving mistakes and accidents. People have to recognise that there is an ethical responsibility to other people on the road."