Safe Transport Victoria had a strong visible presence throughout the Australian Open this year, with safety inspectors conducting checks on over 2,300 vehicles and drivers at key taxi and rideshare pickup locations, including Olympic Boulevard and the nearby CBD, during the action-packed two-week tournament.
Safety inspectors checked drivers and vehicles for safety and regulatory requirements, including ensuring that the vehicle was registered as a commercial passenger vehicle (CPV), that the driver was accredited to legally offer services and that all unbooked taxis had their meters running. The checks focused on the peak passenger pickup times across the fortnight.
Safe Transport Victoria Executive Director, Safety, Strategy and Regulation, Chris Banks, commended drivers for their compliance, noting that safety inspectors were pleased to see most drivers following regulations.
“The vast majority of drivers and vehicles we inspected had the right accreditation and signage – and they all had their meter on if they were providing unbooked services.”
“Those not meeting regulations were fined or issued a formal warning.”
“Drivers and passengers should always remember that unbooked services must use the meter, and penalties apply to anyone failing to comply,” said Chris.
ST Vic engagement teams also spoke to thousands of passengers waiting at the rank about CPV rules, confirming that drivers need to have the meter on when providing unbooked services. Passengers responded positively to the effort, with both interstate and overseas visitors expressing their appreciation for the clear guidance on Victorian regulations.
Supporting ST Vic’s efforts was a video posted by former professional tennis star Jelena Dokic to her Instagram channel, reminding drivers of unbooked service that they need to have the meter on.