Security cameras in taxis met with widespread opposition by drivers

Security cameras will not be made compulsory in taxis following widespread opposition to the proposal by taxi drivers.

The National Transport Authority has decided not to make the use of safety equipment, including in-vehicle cameras, mandatory for taxis and hackneys after an extensive public consultation process which saw the majority of respondents objecting to the measure.

More than 2,600 submissions on the issue were received by the authority with 97.3% of the total stating they did not believe that safety equipment in taxis should be obligatory. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner had also signalled that there could be legal issues surrounding the use of CCTV cameras in taxis.

Most respondents said taxi drivers should be allowed to continue to exercise discretion about the use of such equipment. The overwhelming majority were opposed to the proposed measure on the basis of cost and the potential negative financial impact on taxi licence holders.

Taxi drivers complained it would place an untenable financial burden on them in what was already a difficult market environment.

They were also concerned that the installation of such cameras could devalue their vehicle and affect its future sale. Many said they also used their vehicle for family use when not operating it as a taxi.

The second biggest area of concern was the installation of a security screen which was identified as having a potentially negative effect on the passenger’s safety perception as well as their enjoyment of a taxi service. Taxi drivers said it could lead to a perception of a poor customer service as well as ruining the reputation of the sociable Irish taxi driver.

“The proposal of a partition would create a bad representation of Ireland and give visitors the opinion that they were not in a safe environment both in the car and in our cities,” taxi drivers stated in a common submission made individually to the authority.

Taxi drivers were also concerned about the use of in-vehicle cameras to monitor their work hours as well as a move towards a more standardised vehicle in the industry. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner last year said the continuous recording of passengers in taxis would not be compliant with data protection legislation: “In general, this office would have a concern about the proportionality and justification of installing CCTV cameras in taxis taking account of the legitimate privacy expectations of vehicle users.”

Taxi drivers also called on the authority and other authorities to tackle the perceived leniency and inconsistencies by the courts in punishing fare evaders as well as people who physically assaulted drivers.

The authority said it carried out the consultation as the 2012 Report of the Tax Regulation Review Group recommended the industry be consulted about the possibilities and merits of the mandatory use of driver safety equipment in taxis.

After a separate consultation process the overwhelming opposition of the industry, the authority also decided not to change the size of the current taxi sign.

At the end of 2015, there were 21,146 authorised taxis and hackneys here with 27,440 licensed drivers. Around 70% are based in the greater Dublin region.