Have Your Say August 2020

COVID-19 Passengers should travel in WAV or HOV

"There are quite a number of Victorian taxi and ride share drivers who are feeling frightened/put in danger, by transporting passengers in the front seat of the vehicle and also those who are going to a COVID testing station.

I think that Victorian passengers should not be allowed to travel in the front seat of a taxi or rideshare - just like it is in many other Australian states.

Also if there are more than 2 passengers travelling
in the taxi - then they should travel in a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) or High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV). This way social distancing can be maintained...
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Furthermore, if the passenger is travelling in a taxi or rideshare TO a COVID testing station to be tested, or travelling FROM a COVID testing station after being tested - they should only be travelling in a WAV or HOV - thereby giving more distance between the CPV driver and passenger, and keeping the driver safer.

Currently it is mandatory that a WAV or HOV is used if a high-risk passenger is being transported. But as we have learnt recently, you don't have to be showing major signs of COVID-19 to be highly infectious. 

Since the government won't mandate the use of WAVs or HOVs for this transportation - then perhaps the BSPs will do so - thus looking after the drivers and keeping them safer."

– D Fitzgerald 

WA Government to reap rewards 

"The new PTD system is going to collect the Western Australian Government a lot of $$ which will be then used for general revenue. It is estimated they will collect between $5 to $7M extra per annum. 

This is not about "cost recovery" this is about making money out of the taxi and on demand industry and using it for other purposes. 

It is also making it an even longer and more costly process for taxi drivers (now have to pay for an extra annual Police Clearance as well) who the industry is already very short of!! 

The layers of red tape, administration and costs continue.... thought we were being deregulated?" 

– J Murray 


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