On Friday 5 May 2023, the Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s compliance team of Authorised Officers conducted compliance activities at the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup Carnival, an event the locals call ‘the race that stops the region’ with more than 10,000 attendees.
The targeted compliance operation inspected taxis, rideshare and hire vehicles at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club to ensure the safety of the public by assessing vehicle standards and driver compliance. During the operation, a total of 37 vehicles were inspected, 28 rideshare and hire vehicles, and 9 taxis.
The results showed that overall compliance was good and an improvement on the compliance reported at the same event last year. The Compliance team noted the presence of security guards at taxi ranks after the event helped ensure the safe flow of passengers and traffic.
The compliance operation revealed that hire vehicle drivers, which includes rideshare drivers, not displaying a retroreflective sign on the rear of their vehicle to be the significant breach at and after the event, with 5 Penalty Notices issued to drivers for this offence.
All hire car vehicles, including rideshare vehicles, must display a retroreflective sign that makes it clear that the vehicle is being used to provide passenger services. The sign may be in the form of an identifying logo or other business identification and it is considered best practice for the sign to show the name or logo of the service provider who booked the passenger service. Service providers should ensure drivers understand their obligation to display a retroreflective sign on the vehicle. All service providers and drivers are reminded that this safety obligation is relevant throughout NSW.
Our retroreflective sign toolkit provides resources that can easily be shared with drivers.
The Commissioner’s team of Authorised Officers continue to conduct regular and targeted compliance activities throughout regional and metropolitan NSW to ensure the safety of everyone in the point to point transport industry.