❓ Ms. Saffioti questions the Minister for Transport regarding the safety compliance of London-style taxis, specifically concerning Australian safety standards, airbag requirements, and the need for modifications after the trial phase. The Minister asserts the taxis meet Australian safety standards, citing exemptions for security partition and stability control.
AnsweredQoN 458Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAXIS —
LONDON-STYLE CABS — SAFETY CONCERNS
458. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
Before I ask my question, on behalf of the member for
Bassendean, I acknowledge the principals of Bassendean Primary School and
Lockridge Primary School, Jacqueline Varris and Andy Medland, who are in the
gallery.
I refer to the minister's comments in the house that
the London–style taxicabs meet the Australian safety standards and the
Australian design rules.
(1) Is it not
true that these taxis have been imported under the specialist and enthusiast
vehicle scheme and have not needed to comply with Australian safety standards
and Australian design rules while on the trial phase?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that the TX4 London Taxi does not have dual-front air bags,
which is in contravention of Australian design rules 69/00 and 73/00?
(3) Is it not
also true that if these taxicabs are allowed into general usage after the trial
phase, they will have to undergo extensive modifications and destructive
testing to which they have so far not been subjected?
The SPEAKER : That
was a pretty long question, member for West Swan.
LONDON-STYLE CABS — SAFETY CONCERNS
458. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
Before I ask my question, on behalf of the member for
Bassendean, I acknowledge the principals of Bassendean Primary School and
Lockridge Primary School, Jacqueline Varris and Andy Medland, who are in the
gallery.
I refer to the minister's comments in the house that
the London–style taxicabs meet the Australian safety standards and the
Australian design rules.
(1) Is it not
true that these taxis have been imported under the specialist and enthusiast
vehicle scheme and have not needed to comply with Australian safety standards
and Australian design rules while on the trial phase?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that the TX4 London Taxi does not have dual-front air bags,
which is in contravention of Australian design rules 69/00 and 73/00?
(3) Is it not
also true that if these taxicabs are allowed into general usage after the trial
phase, they will have to undergo extensive modifications and destructive
testing to which they have so far not been subjected?
The SPEAKER : That
was a pretty long question, member for West Swan.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I will do my best to maintain the brevity of
my response and remember all those questions.
Essentially, the London taxicabs
meet the Australian safety standards. They were brought in under the code that
the member referred to and a couple of exemptions were granted by the
Department of Transport; namely, the context of the security partition being the
plastic partition that separates the driver from the passenger, and the
stability control of the vehicle. As with any vehicle that comes into Australia
to drive on our roads, they must adhere to the safety standards to be permitted
on the roads, and these taxis meet those conditions. With regard to
Australasian New Car Assessment Program ratings, we have not applied that
standard over these vehicles but we have not applied them over any taxi vehicle
in the industry. It is a voluntary rating and one that we will leave to the
industry to decide upon.
my response and remember all those questions.
Essentially, the London taxicabs
meet the Australian safety standards. They were brought in under the code that
the member referred to and a couple of exemptions were granted by the
Department of Transport; namely, the context of the security partition being the
plastic partition that separates the driver from the passenger, and the
stability control of the vehicle. As with any vehicle that comes into Australia
to drive on our roads, they must adhere to the safety standards to be permitted
on the roads, and these taxis meet those conditions. With regard to
Australasian New Car Assessment Program ratings, we have not applied that
standard over these vehicles but we have not applied them over any taxi vehicle
in the industry. It is a voluntary rating and one that we will leave to the
industry to decide upon.
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