Taxi drivers could soon set their own fares

 

A proposed shake-up of Victoria's taxi industry may see taxi drivers setting their own fares. 

But Taxi Drivers Association President Michael Jools says that "taxi driver rage" could ensue if drivers get too competitive about offering the lowest price when setting their own fares. 

The proposed legislation would see:

  • Taxi service providers setting their own fares, allowing customers to shop around either on an app, or on the street, where they could ask drivers for a fare estimate.
  • Tough penalties imposed for failing to give an accurate fixed cost or estimate before the trip starts. Driver accreditation would be removed by the industry regulator for repeat offenders.
  • No capping of charges, but there are plans to avoid surge pricing during a natural disaster or crisis.
  • Taxis, ride-share companies and hire cars operating under the same rules, while safety cameras would be installed in all rank and hail services.
  • Cars being fitted with a visual display tracking a taxi fare,  but this will not necessarily be the conventional meter. 
 
Read more at The Age
 
Do you thin kthis is a good idea? Or a disaster waiting to happen?

5 comments

Disaster waiting to happen.

I rarely use them I will try harder to avoid them now.

Taxi Drivers in general -  did themselves mega damage when they already charged too much (for years) and had the monopoly of customers in the first place!! .......

 Welcome Uber!!  They came into the "mix" and happily picked up people on time - charged a lot less and gave passengers "free treats"  i.e. bottled water/chocolates etc.

This will only steer people more towards Uber and could possibly be the demise of the Taxi Industry as we know it??   IMO I cannot see this working or being the answer for Taxi drivers??

I do believe however - there should be camera's installed inside all Uber vehicles for the safety of passengers/drivers!

Having driven a taxi part time I can tell you that it is a crappy way to earn a dollar. Most of the public are great but a few are bloody mongrels being drunk and abusive. Some vomitin your cab or even worse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder what the actual qualifications/experience etc. is for Uber driver's??  How are they "policed" by Uber??  I think you have to have a current model car to be accepted?

They generally appear to be "Mum/Dad/Grandpa/Student" drivers who are in it to make some extra cash and can simply get out on the road whenever it suits them.

 

 

 

just bumping this up to get ahead of the "scammers" lol 

5 comments



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