VTD Transport Safety Officers
The Victorian Taxi Direcorate (VTD) has created a new educational video to educate the taxi industry, especially those new to the industry, about the role of Transport Safety Officers (TSOs).
The purpose of this video is to help industry participants better understand the work that the TSOs do and foster a better relationship between the VTD and the industry.
Hard copies of the DVD will be made available at Registered Training Organisations and taxi depots.
Transcript
[Vision of Ian Smith, Team Leader, Transport Safety and Compliance Unit, VTD]
Ian Smith:
Hello, my name is Ian Smith and I'm a Team Leader with the Victorian Taxi Directorate's Transport Safety and Compliance unit.
In this video you will learn about the role of our Transport Safety Officers, and what is expected of you as a taxi industry participant.
[Vision of a taxi rank]
[Vision of a VTD patrol car]
The VTD regulates the taxi and hire vehicle industries in Victoria. Our role is to ensure the general public has access to clean, safe and reliable taxi services.
[Vision of Transport Safety Officers in car driving]
VTD Transport Safety Officers are responsible for ensuring drivers, operators, and Network Service Providers meet their legislative and regulatory obligations.
[Roadside Inspections]
[Vision of TSOs setting up an inspection site]
We undertake a range of activities including the investigation of complaints, various driver and vehicle inspection operations, targeted and joint agency operations, and other on road work. We perform a range of inspections to ensure all vehicles are up to scratch and that the driver is properly accredited.
[Vision of a Transport Safety Officer directing a taxi to the inspection station]
[Vision of Transport Safety Officers doing a full vehicle inspection]
Transport Safety Officer:
Good morning.
Driver:
Good morning.
Transport Safety Officer:
Victorian Taxi Directorate, can I have a look at your driver's licence and your driver accreditation please?
Driver:
There's the accreditation there.
Transport Safety Officer:
Thank you, just wait there for me please.
We also check that the driver has the photo ID clearly displayed on the dashboard, and is in full uniform.
Transport Safety Officer:
Ok I just need to check if your security camera is working today.
Ok driver just going to check the lights on the vehicle today, if you can turn on your park lights please, and your headlights, high beam, and indicate this side please, and that side.
No worries, I'm just going to check the tyres as well. Can you turn the steering wheel all the way to the right for me? Thank you.
Ian Smith:
We check for compliance with a wide range of safety standards. We look at things such as roadworthiness of vehicles, and functionality of taxi cameras, taxi meters, doors and seat belts.
Transport Safety Officer:
Do you want to just open up the boot for me as well please?
Ian Smith:
VTD Transport Safety Officers may issue rectification notices, infringement notices and official warnings. We take a hardline approach to safety, and we will take cars off the road if they are not up to scratch.
Transport Safety Officer:
Ok there's your driver's licence and your driver's certificate, you're good to go, drive carefully.
[Undercover Operations]
[Vision of a Transport Safety Officer doing a covert operation]
Ian Smith:
We also undertake covert operations, targeting drivers who do the wrong thing such as refuse fares.
Transport Safety Officer:
Hi there, I just want to go down the road to Chapel St please.
Driver:
Sorry I can't take you, it's a short fare. I advise you to take another cab please.
Transport Safety Officer:
I'm actually from the VTD. You've just committed an offence by refusing to take me to my destination, so I'm going to issue you an infringement notice for short fare refusal. Do you understand?
Driver:
Yes.
Ian Smith:
We are constantly coming up with new initiatives to catch drivers who do the wrong thing. As part of operation CATS, VTD Transport Safety Officers are on call to follow up complaints quicker than ever, often within a 48 hour turnaround.
[Vision of Transport Safety Officer doing an intercept]
Transport Safety Officer:
Good afternoon, Karen from the Victorian Taxi Directorate. I'm just doing a random intercept today. We'll be doing a full vehicle inspection on the car.
First of all I need to see your driver's licence and ID please. Thank you very much. Can you state your full name, address and date of birth for me please?
Is your camera working today?
Driver:
Yes
Transport Safety Officer:
Yes I can see a green light. Are you logged into Cabcharge?
Driver:
Yes
Transport Safety Officer:
Do you have a receipt there from your login?
Driver:
Yes
Transport Safety Officer:
I'll just have a quick look at that.
So we're just going to do a full vehicle inspection.
All right, so I'll go through the lights first of all.
If we can start with parkers, high beam, ok indicate, this way, foot on the brake for us.
Can you pop your dome on for me please?
Dome light on vacant, yep.
Can you just start the meter so I can see it working?
Yeah that's great, switch it off.
Water and wipers.
Quick toot of the horn, excellent.
[Vision of a Transport Safety Officer doing a camera download]
Ian Smith:
Looking after the safety of drivers is a big part of our role. On request from Victoria Police, Transport Safety Officers also perform camera downloads, which assist the police to identify and prosecute offenders in taxi related incidents.
[Vision of the Victorian Taxi Directorate Taxi Inspection Centre, Melbourne Airport]
The VTD Taxi Inspection Centre is located at Depot Drive, Melbourne Airport. Drivers and operators can bring in their vehicles to this centre to clear any outstanding notices.
[Vision of a taxi driver clearing an outstanding notice at the inspection centre]
Transport Safety Officer:
Ok you've got a clearance, just bring your car around, drive all the way around the back, in through the garage and park in one of the bays, and we'll be with you in a moment.
I've got your rec notice, if you just listen to what I'll say. I'll quickly run through your lights, because there's a few lights that I have to check.
Once I've checked everything off and everything has been completed, I'll sign this and hand it back to you.
If you could turn your ignition over to accessories, just leave it there.
Great, if you can just put your washers on.
Ian Smith:
We also have a dedicated team of Transport Safety Officers at Melbourne Airport, targeting taxis that are not meeting industry and roadworthy standards.
As a taxi industry participant, you are required to obey all instructions issued by VTD Transport Safety Officers.
We will treat you with courtesy and respect, and we expect you to do the same. Please note that verbal abuse, threats or acts of violence towards Transport Safety Officers are strictly not acceptable, and will not be tolerated.
Remember that we are there to help you. If you have any queries, do not hesitate to approach one of us.
I hope you have a better understanding of what the VTD Transport Safety Officers do. We look forward to working together to improve our industry.