纽芬兰致力提高出租车乘车安全

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is making moves to ensure taxis are roadworthy and cabbies are capable of driving safely — but has stopped short of requiring background checks into their past behaviour, when they aren’t behind the wheel.

The province has instead left that task to cab companies and municipalities.

“Because the taxi industry, the taxi companies, are doing it themselves,” Service NL Minister Sherry Gambin-Walsh told reporters.

“They’ve taken ownership of that requirement. And they understand the safety concerns engaged around that particular process.”

The minister said she remains open to discussions with St. John’s city council, which has asked the province to include background and vulnerable sector checks in its licensing requirements.

Council made that request after a 2016 CBC News investigation revealed gaps in oversight of taxi drivers.

The issue has been in the spotlight since a cabbie was charged earlier that year with on-the-job sexual assaults. He has since been convicted.

Drivers, taxis subject to new regulations

Among the series of regulatory changes unveiled Wednesday morning, were requirements for specialized driving training for new cabbies, and more random inspections of vehicles.

Derek Hayter of Newfound Cabs welcomed the moves by the province.

“Going forward, it’s going to make a positive change to the industry, with little doubt it’s going to be a positive change, in that the drivers will have a more professional standing. Their driving skills will be improved,” he said.

New drivers will need to be licensed for at least two years before they can apply to pilot a cab, and pass a written exam and road test.

Drivers from jurisdictions that don’t have a reciprocity agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador will have to hold a licence in this province for two years before applying to drive a taxi. That’s up from one year now.

On the enforcement side, taxi licences will be revoked for anyone with three or more Highway Traffic Act driving-related convictions in a two-year period.

Licences will also be pulled for any Criminal Code conviction related to driving, or Highway Traffic Act conviction related to bodily harm and/or death.

There will also be new inspection requirements, after a recent series of roadside inspections turned up issues. 

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