Taxicab Driver Personal Safety

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Taxicab Driver Personal Safety

• Jerry Kozubal
• Manitoba Taxicab Board
• IATR 2008

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• Driving a taxicab is an important public
  transportation service and one of the most
  dangerous occupations in North America.
• A taxicab driver is 60 times more likely to be
  murdered on the job than the average worker. In
  Canada there have been 158 taxicab drivers killed
  since 1917.
• In Manitoba there have been 10 taxicab drivers
  killed while on duty since 1945.

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• The murder of taxicab driver, Pritam Deol on July
  17, 2001 sparked an active campaign by the
  taxicab industry in Winnipeg to make cameras and
  safety shields mandatory in all taxicabs.
• Following an extensive review of safety measures
  used by taxicabs in various jurisdictions,
  eighteen recommendations were made to the
  Minister of Transportation to improve taxicab
  driver safety. The taxicab industry in Winnipeg
  fully supported the recommendations.

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• Implementation of the safety recommendations
  involved the taxicab industry, the Taxicab Board
  and other key partners. Three industry
  committees were formed to assess various
  recommendations. Each committee dealt with
  recommendations that were grouped into training,
  community relations or safety issues.
• The safety committee was given the responsibility
  to identify suitable safety enhancement options,
  assess each option, and to make recommendations
  to the Taxicab Board for implementation.

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• Policies and procedures were drafted to ensure
  customer privacy and restricted access to the
  camera images.
• On April 4, 2002 the Safety Committee Working
  Group made a unanimous recommendation that the
  Silent Witness Fareview camera system would be
  installed in all City of Winnipeg taxicabs.

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• On April 10, 2002 the Manitoba Taxicab Board
  approved an amendment to the Taxicab Regulations
  to make the use of the in-cab camera mandatory in
  all standard and accessible taxicabs.
• This decision would require that all 430 standard
  and accessible taxicabs have a camera system
  installed by July 1, 2002. The mandatory in-cab
  camera was the first of a number of safety
  measures recommended to reduce taxicab driver
  robberies, assaults and homicides.

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• For almost two years the Manitoba Taxicab Board
  and the taxicab industry worked together to
  implement the 18 recommendations that were
  identified in the Taxicab Safety Issues Report
  that was released in October 2001.
• A number of voluntary recommendations have also
  been introduced or enhanced to improve driver
  safety.
• An approved first aid kit must be in the taxicab
  at all time effective July 1, 2002.
• An approved safety shield must be installed on
  the drivers seat at all times effective January
  8, 2003.

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• Improvements to the taxicab driver training
  program. Better screening for English language
  skills.
• Training for all taxicab drivers on the security
  features of the in-cab camera. All 1600 taxicab
  drivers must attend before their taxicab driver's
  licence can be renewed.
• The introduction of a 25 cents safety surcharge,
  in December 7, 2001 to pay for all the safety
  initiatives. This surcharge was approved to
  remain in place for 3 years. The safety surcharge
  was removed on September 1, 2003 at the request
  of the taxicab industry as all safety measures
  have been implemented and paid for by the safety
  surcharge.

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• Taxicabs that are equipped with GPS (80) must
  have the system working properly at all times.
• Prepayment of fares is an option that can be
  exercised at the drivers discretion.
• All taxicabs must have a driver controlled trunk
  lock.
• Improved training for all taxicab drivers that
  includes profiling of high-risk areas based on
  police crime data.
• The development of a taxicab driver training
  program designed to enhance driver skills to
  recognize and assess risks, and how to defuse
  potentially hostile situations.

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• Each taxicab owner and dispatch company has
  developed a Work Alone Plan that is reviewed with
  each employee to ensure they understand all the
  safety measures and company policy with respect
  to worker safety.
• WORK ALONE PLAN
• Name of Business ________________________________
  _________
• Name of Owner ___________________________________
  ______
• Taxicab Board Number(s) _________________________
  _________

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• Winnipeg taxicabs operate with no fixed route or
  schedule for periods varying up to 24 continuous
  hours for some cabs. The following are possible
  risks a taxi driver face during his/her shift
• Robbery
• Highjacking of cab
• Abusive, threatening behavior
• Physical assault
• Traffic disputes/accidents
• Fare disputes
• Various combination of the above

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• Emergency assistance is depended on a third
  party, such as a dispatcher, police, other
  taxicab drivers or the public, to come to the aid
  of the taxi driver. The following safety devices
  help protect drivers from risks to their safety
  and health while driving taxicabs.
• The following safety devices are in place to help
  drivers keep safe and get assistance when issues
  occur while driving taxicab in the City of
  Winnipeg.

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• SAFETY DEVICES
• Please check those items that apply
• Safety Shield
• The safety shield will reduce the risk of injury
  caused by assaults on taxicab drivers from
  passengers in the rear seat. The safety shield
  will not protect you against all possible
  dangers.
• A second shield or dividing partition may be
  used in a taxicab to provide greater protection.
  Ensure that all brackets and belts are tightened
  and shield is secure.
• In-car Camera
• The in-car camera will identify suspects by
  recording their images of all passengers that
  enter the taxicab. At the start of each shift,
  taxi driver will ensure camera system is working
  properly.

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• Driver-Controlled Trunk Lock
• The driver-controlled trunk lock is a safety
  precaution in cases where leaving the taxicab to
  open the trunk may pose a threat to a driver.
• Flashing Roof Light
• The purpose of the flashing roof light is to act
  as a means of emergency communication to alert
  others in circumstances where the driver is faced
  with an immediate threat to his/her safety.
• First Aid Kit
• The contents of the first aid kit are to be
  offered/used for temporary assistance until
  paramedic/hospital staff is able to provide
  qualified emergency assistance.

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• Cell Phones
• The cell-phone with programmed messages for the
  driver to use in an emergency to call police,
  dispatcher, and/or buddy.
• Two-way Radio
• The two-way radio is the direct line of
  communication between the driver and dispatcher.
• Dispatch Office
• To provide dispatch services and monitor
  activity of taxicab drivers while on duty and
  provide assistance in event of an emergency.
• Global Positioning System
• The GPS provides safety for the driver by
  providing instant location of the vehicle at any
  given time. The two largest dispatch companies
  have GPS in their taxicabs.

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• Getting Assistance
• Activate emergency roof light to attract
  attention to your vehicle
• Activate GPS to advise dispatcher of problem and
  whereabouts
• Activate the in-car camera (panic button) to
  store images of the assailant
• If possible contact dispatcher through two-way
  radio advise of situation
• Use cell phone to call police, dispatcher and/or
  buddy
• First aid kit is in the trunk of the vehicle

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• Keep Safe
• Ensure all equipment is secure and functioning
  properly before start of shift
• Buddy system
• When cleaning the vehicle of any mess left by
  passengers remember to use rubber gloves and
  proper disinfectants to kill all potential
  germs/viruses.

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• I have read, understand and agree to follow the
  work alone plan.
• Name of business _____________________________
  ________
• Signature of employee/driver
• _______________________________________
• Signature of employer/owner
• ____________________________________
• Date
• ____________________
• Both employee and employer are to have a signed
  copy.
• Corporations to submit one copy to
• Workplace Safety and Health
• Manitoba Department of Labour

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• Passenger information
• Taxicab passengers are informed that there is a
  camera in use in the taxicab. A highly visible
  sign on the rear passenger windows contains the
  following information
• This vehicle is equipped with a security camera
• You are on camera
• Authorized by the Taxicab Board

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• Effectiveness of in-cab camera
• In the first few months after introducing the
  in-cab camera, taxicab drivers were providing
  anecdotal information that there was a reduction
  in fare jumpers and that rowdy passengers were
  more subdued when in a taxicab with a camera
  system.
• An independent source of crime data maintained by
  the Winnipeg Police Service indicated that for
  the calendar year 2002 there were 20 fewer
  reported taxicab robberies that in the previous
  year. This represented a reduction of 71 in
  serious taxicab crimes since the in-cab cameras
  were introduced in Winnipeg taxicabs.

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In-cab camera reduces taxicab robberies in
Winnipeg
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• When 2003 is compared to 2001, the year before
  the in-cab camera was introduced, taxicab
  robberies and other violent taxicab crimes have
  been reduced by 79 in Winnipeg.
• During the same period in 2003, reported crime in
  the City of Winnipeg increased by 10.5 .
• Since the introduction of the in-cab camera, the
  police service has reported an increase in the
  arrest rate with respect to taxicab robberies and
  assaults.
• The arrest rate in 2001 was 35 . In the two
  years after the in-cab cameras were introduced,
  the arrest rates were 50 for 2002 and 66 for
  2003.

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• Taxicab driver acceptance
• A survey conducted in July 2003 found that
  taxicab drivers were overwhelmingly in favor of
  the in-cab camera.
• Over 86 of the taxicab drivers surveyed said
  they felt they were much safer now when driving
  taxicabs because of the in-cab camera.

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• Customer privacy assured
• The Taxicab Board and the Winnipeg Police Service
  developed a protocol and procedures to ensure the
  security of the camera images.
• The images are downloaded from the camera memory
  only when a crime has been reported to the police
  service or offence has been reported under the
  jurisdiction of the Taxicab Act.

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• Only the Taxicab Board and the Winnipeg Police
  Service have the proprietary software to download
  images from the in-cab camera.
• The police have used images obtained from the
  in-cab camera as evidence in criminal
  investigations. The police have on occasion
  posted images obtained from the in-cab camera of
  suspects on the police website as part of their
  investigation.

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• Ombudsmans Office review
• An external review of the Taxicab Boards in-cab
  camera policies and procedures was conducted by
  the Manitoba Ombudsmans Office in response to
  privacy concerns raised by the public.
• The investigation was done to ensure the
  collection, storage and use of in-cab camera
  images was compliant with The Freedom of
  Information and Protection of Privacy Act
  (FIPPA).
• The Ombudsmans Office concluded that the
  collection, use, and disclosure of digital images
  would be authorized and limited to the amount
  reasonably necessary under FIPPA.

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• It is also our view that the collection, use, and
  disclosure of personal information would be
  necessary, effective, and proportional to
  enhancing drivers safety.
• Based on our review, it would appear that the
  Board has made reasonable arrangements for the
  retention and security of the personal
  information.
• Accordingly, it is our opinion that all these
  measures comply with the provisions of FIPPA.

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• The use of an in-cab camera system is a cost
  effective measure that is effective in reducing
  taxicab crime and in improving taxicab driver
  safety.
• Taxicab drivers indicate they feel safer driving
  a taxicab since the in-cab cameras were
  introduced in local taxicabs.
• Police data shows that taxicab robberies have
  been reduced significantly since the introduction
  of the in-cab camera. Where taxicab robberies
  and assaults have occurred, the arrest rate has
  improved as the result of images obtained from
  the in-cab camera.

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• The general public and in particular the taxicab
  customers have accepted the in-cab camera as an
  effective security measure that is designed to
  enhance the taxicab drivers safety and also
  improves the passengers safety.

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• Additional information about Manitoba Taxicab
  Board initiatives can be found on our web-site
• www.gov.mb.ca/mit/taxicab
• Copies of our newsletter The TripSheet are
  available at the conference and can also be found
  on our web-site