Taxi drivers fear seat belt law will lead to attacks

TAXI drivers warned they are more vulnerable to attacks as changes on seat belt regulations came into force yesterday.

Both major taxi representative groups reported a high compliance among their members with the seatbelt regulation. Up to now, taxi drivers were exempt.

But the National Taxi Drivers Union (NTDU) and the National Taxi Drivers Federation are both pressing for meetings with Transport Minister Mr Brennan to seek a compromise. "It would have been more beneficial if the minister, instead of rushing through the changes, had issued a recommendation to taxi drivers to wear seat belts," said the federation's John Usher.