DRIVE A2B November 2017

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Legal CODE OF CONDUCT Operators and Drivers will need to set and abide by a code of conduct for setting and accepting fares. BY NADAV PRAWER, Partner, Mann Lawyers Amongst legal theorists, a persistent idea of law is what is often described as the ‘bad man’ theory- that law is, in reality, only that which will actually result in punishment. In other words, law is what a bad man cares about, not lofty principles or ethics. For most operators in the hire car and taxi industries, an overwhelming commitment to compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the law have been basic tenets. The vast majority of operators are carefully compliant even with regulations that are never enforced. Unlike Uber, the prevalence of unlicensed or unaccredited taxi drivers is extremely low. I recall, for instance, a client whose hire car broke down. Unable to arrange a quick substitution (nothing was ever quick with the TSC) he carried all his passengers that day without charge. Similarly, there have been virtually no instances of ‘bill shock’ with taxis, with pricing set, displayed on a visible taxi meter and all fares required to be accepted. Such an approach has been at the backbone of the high degree of trust that the general public have held in the taxi industry, to the point where inebriated passengers being carried safely by taxi is an expectation, not an exception. Sadly, the government’s further proposed changes to taxisostensibly to allow deregulation of the industry in full to allow competition with Uber- risk undermining the confidence of consumers in the fair and reasonable pricing of taxis. They also threaten to create unseemly price competition between taxis, and a plethora of potential legal issues for drivers in fare disputes with passengers. Whilst it is our firm hope that drivers will unite, effectively, to set rates which will be universal across the taxi industry, such an approach risks violating anti-cartel behaviour and the Competition and Consumer Act. (The present approach, with prices fixed by the Essential Services Commission, is exempted.) One possible approach is for drivers’ groups or industry organisations, such as the Victorian Hire Car Association (for whom Mann Lawyers acts) to create a recommended set of fares and a driver code of conduct for accepting fares. 30 DRIVE A2B magazine · November 2017
Driver Adverts want a driver? want work? SILVER TOP DRIVERS REQUIRED Full time day or night (Sedan) changeover Rowville or East Doncaster must have at least 3 years taxi experience and should be over 25 years old. Please ring Tony on 0413393594 DRIVER WANTED - Part time and Saturday Night Available Brighton change over. Private owner in Silver Top. Phone 0418 536 815. SILVER TOP DRIVER NEEDED A flexible position exists for competent Silver Top driver. Any shifts - new car - we can help with transport if living far from Richmond. Contact Vic on 0466 582 009. advertise HERE Jobs FREE for operators & drivers Send details of your DRIVER or JOB advertisement to info@drivea2b.com.au or sms 0400 137 866 WAT DRIVER NEEDED Accredited Wheelchair Accessible Taxi driver needed to deliver a great customer experience by adopting a positive, relationship-based, and customer-centric approach. Please contact Peter or Jodie at Vermont Autogas on (03) 9874 8611. Embassy Cafe WE’re open WE NEVER CLOSE 547 Spencer Street West Melbourne VISIT US FOR THE BEST BURGERS IN TOWN DRIVE A2B magazine · November 2017 31
Page 1 and 2: DRIVE Voice of the Victorian Point-
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS WHAT’S INSIDE 6 Hardship
Page 5 and 6: TIPS FOR TAXIdrivers I’m not sure
Page 7 and 8: “I have never been opposed to cha
Page 9 and 10: FAIRNESS FUND The Fairness Fund is
Page 11 and 12: ATTENTION HIRE CAR OPERATORS All ac
Page 13 and 14: inadequate. Just $100,000 is paid f
Page 15 and 16: from $ 700 WEEKLY SET PRICE CARS 24
Page 17 and 18: “It’s an agreed fact the vehicl
Page 19 and 20: PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE VICTORIAN HI
Page 21 and 22: ACCIDENT COVER FOR THE VICTORIAN CO
Page 23 and 24: IFIED vehicles Over 40% of global c
Page 25 and 26: ARE YOU PUTTING A TAXI ON THE ROAD?
Page 27 and 28: RUMOUR MILL What we hear Are these
Page 29: Life boat ethics will sink our indu
Page 33 and 34: TRANSPORT IMPACTS all aspects of ou
Page 35 and 36: 7 Wash 8 Shoes 9 Avoid your clothes
Page 37 and 38: advertise HERE Only $215 for your b
Page 39 and 40: WINNIPEG, CANADA Committee hearings
Page 41 and 42: AAMI VICTORIA DERBY DAY Saturday, 4
Page 43 and 44: Conundrum corner Sudoku Rules - Fil

DRIVE A2B November 2017

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