Safety cameras in taxis
Safety cameras are compulsory in all taxis operating in the metropolitan, outer-suburban (Dandenong and Frankston) and Geelong taxi-cab zones to improve safety for passengers and drivers. Safety cameras have also been installed in the taxi fleets operating at Shepparton and on the Mornington Peninsula.
Information on this page
How the cameras work
Safety cameras sit above the rear vision mirror and operate automatically when triggered by specific events such as the opening or closing of a door. Images are then automatically recorded.
Following the report of an incident to the Victoria Police, images can be downloaded. Only the police can determine if an incident warrants a download.
Only a limited number of Victorian Taxi Directorate staff are authorised to download images from the cameras.
|  |  The camera is located directly above the rear view mirror |
Taxi drivers and taxi owners do not have access to images collected by the cameras under any circumstances.
Victoria Police has commended the use of safety cameras in taxis. To date, more than 149 people have been charged with offences as a direct result of police having access to the recorded images.
Privacy
Ensuring the privacy of taxi passengers and drivers is paramount. The purpose of the cameras is to record incidents or assaults in taxis for investigative purposes. Images of everyday passenger trips are not viewed or retained by any person. Stickers are attached to each exterior door of the taxi and on the dashboard to tell passengers there is a camera operating in the taxi.
See
Victorian Taxi Directorate Privacy Statement (PDF, 79 KB, 1 p.).
Supply of safety cameras
The Department of Transport prepared specifications for the requirements, quality, operation and installation of the cameras. It has approved the following camera suppliers as having met the quality and operating requirements, allowing taxi operators to select a system best suited to their needs and budgets:
Infonics Pty Ltd
Martin Meters
Sigtec Pty Ltd
Background
The Minister for Transport announced in November 2000 that safety cameras would be progressively installed in Victoria's taxi fleet. The announcement, in consultation with the taxi industry, followed comprehensive research that clearly showed that cameras were the most effective method to improve safety in taxis.
Safety cameras are fitted in taxis in many areas around the world, including the cities of Houston and San Antonio in the United States, and Calgary in Canada. In Australia, safety cameras are also fitted in taxis operating in Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania, and are currently being fitted in the Queensland taxi fleet.
Anecdotal evidence shows that safety cameras are responsible for reducing driver assaults by up to 60 per cent.
In Victoria, the cameras cost about $2,500 to purchase, install and maintain. Their introduction was funded by a component of a taxi fare increase introduced in December 2000.
The
Victorian Taxi Safety Strategy provides for the development of technical specifications for new cameras based on the latest technology and new national standards. The new cameras will be phased in from January 2009 and will replace outdated models.