2024 saw the point to point transport industry deliver nearly 80 million passenger services across the state. This growth meant that over the summer holiday period the industry was kept very busy.
While the majority of Sydney and NSW were waving sparklers and celebrating the new year, the point to point transport industry were working hard to get people across NSW safely to and from events.
The Commissioner’s on-street Compliance team, like the industry, followed up a busy December by conducting highly visible operations at key locations in Sydney on New Year’s Eve.
The team helped ensure that everyone celebrating got a safe ride home by making sure rideshare and taxi drivers were compliant, all point to point transport services were dropping off and picking up passengers safely, and supporting drivers by keeping taxi ranks clear.
On-street inspectors conducted both plain clothes and highly visible operations throughout the holiday season. Inspectors completed almost 700 plain clothes trips during the special summer period blitz along with their highly visible presence. The team reported a high level of compliance across the industry with a marked improvement from the same period last year.
Top offences identified across the blitz, that went for a month, were:
|
Top offences identified 21 November to 21 December 2024 |
|
|
Clause 20(2) - Hire vehicles ensure retroreflective indicates is a hire vehicle |
93
|
| Section 76(5) - Fares orders (overcharge) | 64 |
| Clause 75 - Driver standing otherwise than in a taxi zone | 28 |
| Clause 81 - Operation of fare calculation device by taxi driver | 25 |
| Clause 77(1) - Driver to accept hiring | 15 |
| Clause 84(c) Hire vehicle stop/stand or queue in taxi zone | 9 |
| Clause 66 - Tout or solicit for passengers (not Sydney Airport precinct) | 7 |
During the New’s Years Eve operation 4 breaches were identified
|
Driver related offences |
|
|
Section 59(1) - Driver smoking in vehicle |
1 |
|
Clause 77(1) - Driver to accept hiring |
1 |
|
Clause 76 - Taxi not available for hire in taxi zone |
1 |
| Clause 84(c) - Hire vehicle stop/stand or queue in taxi zone | 1 |
A further 4 Improvement notices were issued
|
Improvement notices |
|
|
Clause 18(1) Approved security camera systems and safeguards - taxis in working order |
3 |
|
Clause 9 Vehicle maintenance (cracked windscreen) |
1 |
In 2025, the Commissioner and his team will continue to work with industry to ensure safe journeys for all with his inspectors continuing to focus on compliance across the state.