DRIVE A2B Magazine June Issue 2020 by DRIVE NOW Magazine

DRIVE

Voice of the Australian Commercial Passenger Transport Industry

JUNE 2020 | EDITION 35

National Magazine

Taxis, Hire Cars, Wedding cars, Limousines

Owners, Drivers, Partners, Operators

Suppliers, Networks, Booking Service Providers

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CLEAN HANDS

SAVE LIVES 12 steps to successful everyday handwashing

Queensland Health

Duration of hand-wash

15–20 SECONDS

STEPS

Wet hands with water.

Apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces.

Rub hands palm to palm.

Rub hands palm to palm with fingers interlaced.

Rub back of hand using the palm of the other with fingers interlaced.

Rub wrist with the opposite hand.

Clean thumb by holding it in the other hand and rotating.

In a circular motion rub the tips of fingers in the palm of the opposite hand.

Lather thoroughly.

Interlock fingers and rub back of fingers on opposite palms.

Rinse hands with water.

Dry hands with clean paper towel and use paper towel to turn off tap.

Please note: These guidelines are for social handwashing only, such as after toilet use and before touching food. This poster is not intended for use in clincal settings. 1. Curtis, V 2003, ‘Effect of washing hands with soap on diarrhoea risk in the community: a systematic review’ Lancet Infec Dis, Retrieved 19 March 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12726975 ‘Based on the ‘How to HandWash Poster’ © World Health Organization 2009.

TO 10

Researchers think that if everyone washed their hands properly, about 1 million lives would be saved every year.1 When performed correctly, hand hygiene results in a reduction of microorganisms on hands. Poor hand hygiene contributes to the spread of pathogens, which can cause health issues such as gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.

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FOR THE

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Taxi, Hire Car, Limo and On-Demand Transport Industry

Mrs Toni Peters

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Views expressed in any article in DRIVE A2B magazine are those of the individual contributor and not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept any responsibility for any opinions, information, errors or omissions in this publication. To the extent permitted by law, the publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising from the contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damage. Advertisements must comply with the relevant provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Responsibility for compliance with the Act rests with the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisement. DRIVE A2BTM is wholly owned by Trade Promotions Pty Ltd. © Trade Promotions Pty Ltd 2017. All rights reserved. Copyright of articles and photographs in DRIVE A2BTM remains with the individual contributors and may not be reproduced without permission.

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

EDITION 35 www.drivea2b.com.au DRIVEA2B

COVER by Stuart Peters

@DRIVEA2Ba contact@drivea2b.com.au

NATIONAL 8 12

News from Transport Alliance Australia. Uber Class Action update.

QUEENSLAND 10

Transport Industry Fee Relief

VICTORIA 14 16 18

Frequently Asked Questions. Message from Rod Barton MP. Fairness Fund payment re-classified.

NSW 24

COVID-19 impact on the NSW Taxi Industry.

NSW Taxi Industry Stimulus Support Package.

27 28

Dubbo Sanitisation Station trial. Update from NSW Taxi Council.

COVID-19 INFO 3

Clean hands save lives.

Common car touch points must be cleaned.

Symptoms of COVID-19.

OVERSEAS

Taxi app "Gett" accused of profiteering during COVID-19 crisis.

Smart street interventions, transformative changes for people and the planet.

US DOT supplying face masks to the nation's transportation workforce.

From our Editor This month I am going to share some prevalent facts and figures from surveys and research results that have been published in the past month. Firstly, recent researches have shown that ridesharing pick up and drop offs are increasing the number of accidents between motorists and pedestrians. This raises a huge concern for the safety of the road and transport infrastructure. Moreover, according to several studies undertaken in both the US and UK, the number of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes are declining when ride-sharing becomes available in a city or town. But there is no apparent change in the overall number of motor vehicle accidents. In Australia we do not have any limits on the number of ride-share vehicles that are allowed to ply for a share of the taxi and hire car fares.

With less people travelling on the roads at the moment, due to restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an opportune time to revisit the amount of extra, unnecessary vehicles that do travel on our roads. In light of these recent studies, the State Governments may wish to rethink their position on this. If the number of accidents is not decreasing, why are they permitting more and more ride-share vehicles on the road? Less vehicles on the roads would result in less congestion, less accidents and less pollution. Surely safety for motorists, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists on the road should be the number one priority! Secondly, the Australian Financial Review also conducted a survey last month regarding what mode of transport their readers would choose when they return to work.

DRIVE A2B magazine Âˇ www.drivea2b.com.au Âˇ June 2020

The results showed that •

55% would prefer to use their car to get to work;

•

21% would use public transport;

•

14% would walk; and

•

6% would ride a bike.

Thus, with so many people thinking about road and transport infrastructure, let's hope they learn from each other's efforts and implement some brilliant strategies. Stay well and stay safe.

Due to the risks of being exposed to COVID-19, many do not wish to travel by train, tram or bus. They would rather get in a vehicle with less people - either their own car, taxi or ride share.

Mrs Toni Peters DRIVE A2B Editor

Thirdly, there is the survey done by the University of Sydney Business School. This survey determined that nearly 50% of people living in major Australian cities would leave their car at home if they could travel up to five kilometres to a public transport hub by taxi, hire car or ride-share vehicle, for a capped fare of $5. Furthermore, Director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, Professor David Hensher, said, “It opens up a need for a dialogue with government as to whether a subsidy scheme for the first and last kilometre might more than compensate for the levels of subsidy for the main public transport service, by increasing patronage as well as reducing congestion on our roads in the large cities.”

ANNUAL BOOK OF Order your own DRIVE A2B Annual Book today!

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Your NATIONAL association looking after the interests of all in the Australian commercial passenger transport sector.

riving this week on the roads, it is obvious to see that people are

appreciating the lessening of restrictions. It is also nice to be seeing taxis around, even though there is little work at present. The Victorian regulator, the CPVV, advised us last week that there has been a 2% increase in MPTP fares week on week, on top of a previous week’s increase of 6%. Having said that, this is off an incredibly low base, and we are well down on the number of trips on a year-on-year comparison.

André Baruch Director, Transport Alliance Australia

So what can we do to bring our businesses back to where they were? I believe we are coming into a time of great opportunity, if we play our cards right. With more and more people slowly coming back to work there is a lot of fear in the community regarding public transport. This creates opportunities for the commercial passenger transport operators, as people want to move from place to place in comfort and more importantly in safety.

We are now in a time where there is no longer safety in numbers! This is the time to re-build our businesses, from the ground up. None of us can afford to take the level of clientele we used to have for granted and just assume it will magically come back to us. It won’t. Instead, we have to reach out and let our clients know that we are still here, are available for work, and that we have their safety as our number one priority. Now, more than ever, our businesses are about us, as individuals. Now is the time to redevelop our personal networks, our personal connections both with our clients and with other drivers who we trust and know will look after our clients like they are their own. Transport Alliance Australia (TAA), together with our partner DRVR Training, is pleased to offer a FREE COVID-19 Hygiene Awareness Course that educates drivers to keep them and their passengers safe. It is a way for you to increase consumer confidence and assure your clients you are taking steps to ensure safety. Every driver receives

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

General Meeting Thursday 25 June 2020 10am - 12noon via ZOOM

We have lots to share with you! a certificate and there are badges available to use for your business webpage, print and digital marketing. DRVR Training also offers a number of other courses that may be of assistance to ensure your drivers and chauffeurs are offering the highest level of service. All training is both an educational tool and a marketing tool (point of difference) to reassure our clients that you are aware of the new reality and prepared to deal with it. For further information visit DRVR Training at www.drvrtraining.com.

•

Updated TAA structure and website.

•

Rod Barton MP, Leader of Transport Matters Party will share an update.

•

Elizabeth O’Shea, Senior Associate at Maurice Blackburn, with an update on the Uber Class Action.

•

DRVR Training presentation.

•

Plenty of time for Questions and Answers.

RSVP by Thursday 18 June to info@taa-national.com.au Your zoom invitation will be forwarded to you upon registration for this event.

Hygiene Training

I would love to hear from you all to see what we can do to assist you and I wish you all much success going forward. You can email me at andre. baruch@taa-national.com.au.

FREE course for drivers and operators

with information on suitable hygiene practices for the current COVID-19 pandemic & beyond.

I look forward to “seeing” you all on 25 June, and having coffee together when we are allowed to. Best wishes, stay safe out there.

Enrol today for FREE!

André Baruch

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

QUEENSLAND

Transport Industry Fee Relief

NEWS

On 25 April 2020, the Queensland Government announced support for taxi, limousine and rideshare drivers and operators as part of a $54.5 million transport industry package. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the relief package was targeted to keep air, bus and ferry services running in communities where some of these services are the only transport option. “Operators can’t afford to keep running these services when passenger numbers are down as much as 95 per cent,” Mr Bailey said. The funding package would also allow for the waiver of some fees and extend licence terms for taxi, limousine and rideshare operators by six months. “Hundreds of drivers have been on the frontline across our state during this pandemic helping people with essential travel, but they’ve seen fares disappear almost overnight,” Mr Bailey said. “Some operators want to de-register their vehicles until COVID-19 is over, so this means they won’t pay to do that, or when they reregister that same vehicle in the future either.” The package includes:

•

extending existing booked hire/taxi driver authorisations for 6 months - save $77.05.

•

extending existing taxi/limousine licences for 6 months - save $93.87.

•

waiving the annual Taxi Industry Security Levy in 2019/20 - save $398.40 - but this fee has been on-hold for many years.

FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR AN OWNER/OPERATOR OF 1 LIMOUSINE 6 months Driver Authorisation

77.05

temporarily extending the refund policy for holders of booked hire service licences so they can receive a pro-rata refund if they choose to surrender their licence - save $110.

6 months of Licence Renewal

93.87

6 months Booking Entity

132.27

JobKeeper for 6 months @ $3000 per month

$18,000.00

TOTAL ASSISTANCE

$18,303.19

waiving fees for operators to cancel and re-register their vehicles - save $30.90.

They are graciously not charging the annual Taxi Industry Security Levy that they have already been waiving for the past 3 years - so it's not a saving - it's just an extra charge that is not being re-introduced. In summary, the Queensland Transport and Main Roads (TMR) have only offered around $300 to drivers and operators. Nothing substantial has been offered by government. The Booking companies receive no assistance - most of them are waiving or heavily reducing their fees, but they are not getting any compensation for doing so. Minister Bailey recognises that our industry is an essential service and that passenger numbers are down by around 95%. Yet what the government has decided to offer to the Queensland Personalised Passenger Transport Industry does absolutely nothing to show appreciation of the work that our industry provides. A paultry $300 for 6 months is just not enough!

HUSBAND AND WIFE TAXI OPERATOR WITH 10 VEHICLES OPERATING IN BRISBANE Leasing licences from licence owners

FINANCIAL RELIEF for 6 months $18,309.00 for 10 sets of plates if they de-register their vehicles

$ 309.00

plus one person in the couple can receive JobKeeper @ $3000 per month for 6 months

$18,000.00

They don’t employ any staff so they are not eligible for the federal cash flow assistance for business. TYPICAL EXPENSES for 6 months = $135,408.00 •

Lease – $700 per vehicle per month (most operators are not paying this and the licence owners aren’t getting lease money that they require to live or pay loans)

$42,000.00

•

Insurance - $1909.76 per vehicle for 6 months

$19,097.60

•

Registration - $2,140 per vehicle for 6 months

$21,400.00

•

Usual Booking company fees – $881.84 per vehicle per month (most booking companies have reduced this cost and now the booking company is suffering from the lack of this income)

$52,910.40

And these are just the main figures. We haven't even included loan repayments and every day running costs such as; vehicle maintenance, fuel, equipment levies and PPE for drivers.

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

legal news

uber class action update from Maurice Blackburn Solicitors

Many readers will recall that Uber made a number of procedural applications last year to try and stop the class action, including a strike out. A strike out is where the defendant tries to have the case thrown out because they say it cannot succeed. These applications were heard in September. A decision was handed down in late December, and we were successful with the court dismissing nearly all of the applications brought by Uber. This was a good outcome for us. The judge asked us to redraft our written case a little, which we did, and we submitted that in late February. The defendants have appealed the judge’s decision from December. They are making the same arguments about why the case should not go ahead. We have

prepared our written arguments to be heard before the Court of Appeal on 28 May 2020. Meanwhile, the main case is still going ahead before the judge while the appeal is going on. Uber’s written defence is due on 29 May 2020 and we are listed for further directions on 26 June 2020. Outside of the court hearings, we are continuing to work on assessing losses. We are using a sample of people who have registered with us to work out the losses suffered by the group as efficiently as possible. If you are in the sample, we would have contacted you by now, otherwise you do not need to do anything. We are grateful to those who have assisted us with this sampling exercise.

We remain confident in our case. We still think it will take a few years to resolve, because it is complex and large. But we think our case has merit and will be successful. If you have registered with us, you should be receiving letters from us. If you have not received these letters, please contact us so we can update your details. Should your personal circumstances change, please also contact our offices. You can do so on 1800 291 047 or at Uber@ mauriceblackburn.com.au. You may also wish to visit our webpage for the class action at uberclassaction.com.au containing key documents and updates about the case.

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

HYUNDAI SANTA FE New tech and redesigned exterior and interior styling. by Alex Rae | Practical Motoring

Upfront is an obvious change, with the new stereoscopic 3D mesh grille running the full width of the nose. The LED headlights also now feature a ‘T’ shape design running down to the bottom of the grille insert, the design somewhat reminiscent of Volvo’s Thor’s hammer design. For the model shown here, it rides on large 20-inch alloy wheels.

Moving inside, the interior isn’t immediately different when looking above the beltline, with the dash top and steering wheel carrying on much the same aesthetic, though a new, buttonless 10.25-inch infotainment display sits on top, surrounded by soft-touch materials. However, below that, things are much different. Hyundai introduces a new wide centre console that creates the feeling of more room

between the front pews. It is filled with buttons and dials, one of which replaces the old gearshift stick with a rotary selector that’s much more contemporary. The seat trims also look to have been revised, and there’s now a Terrain Mode selector that never existed before in the Santa Fe. The new MY21 Santa Fe is expected to arrive in Australia later this year.

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

???

Here are a few of the most recent questions asked of Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria. CPVV regularly updates its website with the most frequently asked questions and their relative answers. You can read them at https://cpv.vic. gov.au/passengers/coronavirus-covid-19#faqs.

VICTORIA

NEWS

Can drivers pick up and drop off passengers from multiple addresses? The Stay at Home Directions do not prohibit a commercial passenger vehicle from carrying more than one passenger, or from picking up at multiple addresses. The passenger(s) may only use a commercial passenger vehicle to travel for a permitted purpose, but the driver does not have to ascertain whether the passenger has a valid reason. How far can drivers travel in the State of Victoria to pick up passengers? A commercial passenger vehicle can pick up a passenger anywhere in Victoria, but long-distance travel should be minimised. While there is no limitation on the distance that can be travelled, it is important that all Victorians limit travel to help minimise the potential spread of COVID-19. Travelling long distances to visit family and friends where it is not necessary and staying overnight when is not in line with one of the five approved reasons to leave home, should both be avoided. Can I ask passengers to apply disinfectant hand sanitiser? While you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t demand a passenger apply hand sanitiser, you can certainly offer hand sanitiser to your passengers. You should also clean and disinfect surfaces in your vehicle which you and your passengers touch, after each passenger and

DRIVE A2B magazine Âˇ www.drivea2b.com.au Âˇ June 2020

upon change of drivers, with recommended products. You should also wash your own hands thoroughly with soap and water, or hand sanitiser with at least 60 per cent alcohol, regularly. Will commercial passenger vehicle inspections still be completed? Commercial passenger vehicle inspections can continue. However, vehicle owners and inspectors are both strongly encouraged to practise social distancing, by remaining 1.5 metres from one another where possible, washing hands regularly using soap and water or hand sanitiser with at least 60 per cent alcohol and practising good hand hygiene.

driver spreading droplets (such as sneezing, coughing or vomiting), drivers should clean high touch surfaces after each passenger and after each driver, with recommended products. See page 30 in this edition for more detail about high touch areas. How regularly should I clean my vehicle? High touch surfaces that are likely to be touched by passengers should be cleaned after each passenger and before the next trip commences. High touch surfaces that are only touched by the driver should be cleaned at the end of each driver's shift. This may be required multiple times a day if multiple drivers use the vehicle.

How can I keep my vehicle clean to minimise the impact of the virus? You should clean and disinfect high touch surfaces in your vehicle after each passenger and after each driver with recommended products. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. Keep a box of tissues in your car, and if you do cough or sneeze, use a tissue, dispose of it straight away and then wash your hands. In the event of a passenger or

Decrease in number of Commercial Passenger Vehicle Trips in May 2020 week 4 compared with same time last year

63% MPTP trips

77% WAT trips

J O I NY ! TCEIVOE EDXTRAA MONTILHS

T SHIP UN MEMBER 2020 30 SEPT

F R EE

TAA has extended existing financial memberships to 30 Sept 2020. We will look to restart invoicing for the 12 months Oct 2020 to Sept 2021, in mid September.

TAA advocates for the betterment of the Australian personal passenger transport sector.

Your voice with ... • State and Federal Government • Victorian, Queensland and Western Australia industry regulators

ONLY

120

per person

www.taa-national.com.au

info@taa-national.com.au

/per year

@TransportAllianceAustralia

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

VICTORIA

NEWS

Our Goal: Keep our taxis on the road Rod Barton MLC Leader, Transport Matters Party

As I write this for the June issue of DRIVE A2B we are approaching the end of negotiations with the Minister for Public Transport for a COVID-19 support package for the Commercial Passenger Vehicle industry in Victoria. The main goal of the package is to keep taxis on the road, so that as the market improves they are ready to meet demand.

Transport for Vulnerable Victorians My greatest concern is that the pressures of COVID-19 restrictions on the taxi industry will see the loss of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) to the industry.

We already know that many Commercial Passenger Vehicle (CPV) drivers have exited the industry as a result of a significant reduction in work directly related to social distancing rules, or drivers leaving due to their own safety concerns. With international and domestic arrivals ground to a halt, business meetings and major events across the city cancelled, and the majority of city based professionals now working from home, the market has all but dried up. However, our vulnerable citizens are still reliant on personal transport to make even the most basic trips.

Taxi driver David Chetcuti helps Anthony Austin into his taxi. Picture: Tony Martin

DRIVE A2B magazine Âˇ www.drivea2b.com.au Âˇ June 2020

My greatest concern is that the pressures of COVID-19 restrictions on the taxi industry will see the loss of WAVs to the industry.

Victorians who use wheelchairs and those with limited mobility are, at the best of times, more limited in accessing medical, shopping or social needs outside their home. However, the real risk of a reduction in WAVs in Victoria’s CPV fleet would exasperate their ongoing needs. Victorians who are eligible for the Multiple Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) are considered a higher risk cohort in relation to COVID-19 and therefore may rely on CPVs for more of their trips, thus creating further financial stress. This group of Victorians may not be able to afford additional CPV use and will be faced with the choice of staying at home or putting their health at risk. Further, there is a cohort of other Victorians who do not qualify for the MPTP but who are considered by the Chief Health Officer as higher risk. This includes people who are over 70, Indigenous Australians and those over 50 with pre-existing conditions. They will be less likely to live independently and less likely to risk even appropriately distanced public transport services as restrictions are lifted if they are not provided with personal transport options. Our Booking Service Providers (BSP) are an important asset to

the Victorian community as they co-ordinate the delivery of WAVs, but they are under significant financial pressure, with a number facing the prospect of not continuing to be viable. This is particularly evident in regional Victoria. The accessibility of WAVs is directly linked to the viability of the BSP – without BSPs most vulnerable Victorians will not be able to access WAVs.

and fellow members of parliament to support local businesses. I call on our industry, to consider before you buy who will benefit most - a small business owner or a large international corporation. My message is clear for those making transport choices, choose operators - be they taxis, hire cars or rideshare - that are registered Australian businesses, and their profits and taxes remain in Australia.

I have urged both the Minister for Public Transport and the regulator to think carefully about unintended consequences when they advocate for changes to the MPTP. I fear the regulator has not learnt any lessons from the 2017 reforms and continues to push expansion of the market to casual operators. Changes to the MPTP will only exacerbate the social and economic harm that was done in 2017 and continue to be felt by the taxi and hire car industry as it has been devastating for thousands of Victorian families.

Support local, support Australian businesses

Visit my Facebook page at www. facebook.com/RodBartonMP/ or my website www.rodbarton.com. au. Here you will find information on how to share this #buylocal message among your friends and family and encourage people to think before they buy. Stay well. Stay safe.

The first siting week back after COVID-19 restrictions I took the opportunity to urge the community, Government departments, Ministers

We're all in this together and we must support each other.

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

VICTORIA

NEWS

Fairness Fund Payment Re-classified Last month a former taxi licence holder had a successful review of the tax liability on their fairness fund payment re-classed as capital rather than income, and is now due to receive a tax refund. Rod Barton MP and his team worked closely with the ATO over the last 12 months while it conducted an internal review of how the Transition payments and Fairness Fund payments were treated for tax purposes, following the revoking of Victorian taxi licences in 2017. Mr Barton wrote to the ATO in March last year on behalf of a number of former licence holders who were facing huge tax obligations following

Fairness Fund payments. “Many in the industry were bleeding, and still paying off loan and tax debts. They lost their licences and their source of income and were left with loan debts for property that no longer exists and then many faced tax debt on fairness fund payments,” said Mr Barton. The Fairness Fund was established to provide means-tested financial support for licence holders experiencing financial hardship. These payments were assessed as income and were taxed accordingly. As licence holders filed their tax returns for 2018 and 2019 many were hit with large and

unexpected tax bills on their fairness funds payouts and, in many cases, were required to make pay-as-you-go (PAYG) payments for the following financial year. Former licence holders who were forced out of the industry or chose not to continue working may be eligible to have their fairness fund payments classed as capital. “I would encourage anyone who received a fairness fund payout to seek advice from their accountant and undertake a review with the tax office,” said Mr Barton. “This would apply to anyone who is no longer working in the industry,” he said.

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

Major works – expect delays As part of Victoria’s Big Build, the government is concentrating on the removal of level crossings on the Frankston and Upfield lines and upgrading major road and rail networks across Melbourne from June to August. In addition, essential maintenance will also be carried out on the tram and regional train network during the winter period. For more information and live updates visit: bigbuild. vic.gov.au/disruptions.

Program of works Train •

Frankston Line – Cheltenham and Mentone Level Crossing Removals

•

Sunbury Line Upgrade

•

V/Line maintenance and renewals program on Bendigo, Swan Hill and Echuca Lines

•

Upfield Line – Bell to Moreland Level Crossing Removals with part and full lines closures

Tram •

Route 58 – Pascoe Vale substation works

•

Routes 86 and 96 – between Albert St and Liverpool St East Melbourne

Road •

Footscray Road citybound full weekend closure for two weekends in June

•

West Gate Freeway to M80 Ring Road outbound ramp closed for two weekends in June

•

Princes Freeway closed between Princess Freeway, Hoppers Crossing and Princess Highway, Werribee.

a b m E ssy Cafe OPEN FOR YOUR TAKE AWAY ORDERS

WE’re open WE NEVER CL

OSE

T BURGERS IN TOWN S E B E H T FOR 547 Spencer Street S U T I IV S West Melbourne

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

I 20

t turns out self-driving cars aren’t dissimilar from selfdriving humans:

t takes about 16 years for them to be ready for the road. by Kyle Stock

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

Today, a generation removed from the seminal 2004 Darpa challenge in which the U.S. military launched a fleet of fledgling robot cars across the Mojave Desert, these machines are still trying to get their licenses. It’s taking much longer than initially promised, but analysts expect autonomous vehicles to mature quickly over the next decade. “The hype got ahead of the reality, but honestly, it’s gone way faster than I would have ever believed,” says Gary Silberg, a partner at KPMG. “I mean, it’s literally like putting somebody on the moon. It’s that complex.” Meanwhile, the coronavirus has both strengthened the use case for robot drivers and shuttered labs and factories where the technology was being refined. There’s never been a better time for groceries or medicines delivered by an algorithm on wheels, though near-term milestones will likely be delayed, and the economic fallout from the pandemic will undoubtedly force some companies to scrap their autonomous skunkworks. Larry Burns, a former General Motors executive and co-author of Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car, likens the race to a marathon, with the industry roughly at mile 15—and the pandemic just put a massive hill in front of the field. “A cliff may be a better analogy,” he said. “The strongest runners are still going to get over it. It will take them longer, but there’s a chance they may be able to accelerate on the other side.”

Even before social distancing, self-driving engineers were quietly recalibrating expectations and pushing promised timelines back. In early 2018, General Motors Co. pledged to have a fleet of selfdriving taxis in San Francisco by 2020. While it unveiled a new people-moving machine (sans steering wheel) in January, GM’s launch date for taking on passengers has been open-ended since summer 2019. Meanwhile, Daimler backed away from its pledge to put 10,000 sentient taxis on the streets by 2021. Similarly, Tesla promised to have 1 million autonomous “robotaxis” on the road by the end of last year. The automaker still hopes to fulfill that vision by 2021. Several of the groups developing self-driving technology set their sights on 2021 for initial deployment, according to a recent report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance—and that was before the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined engineers.

To date, the only platform taking passengers in fully driverless vehicles is Waymo, a Google spinoff. It is the sector’s presumed front-runner. Weather has proved tricky, as have so-called edge cases, when someone else on the road—be it a driver, cyclist or electric scooter pilot—does something unexpected, as humans often do. The halting nature of development

has delivered a large dose of humility to the world’s whipsmart mobility experts, who are showing an increased willingness to form posses and work together. The treasure hunt for self-driving riches is now dominated by joint ventures. In some cases, a technology company’s effort with an automaker is bankrolled by an institutional investor. “Everyone had this vision of grandeur,” Silberg said. “But there’s very much a consensus that going it alone is not a smart strategy. For some of these companies, you can think of the investment as a kind of put option on the self-driving future.” It will likely be years before a hedge fund titan can load the dogs into a sentient SUV and command it to drive to her ski house. But self-driving cars are already charging fees in places such as: sunny Phoenix, where Lyft customers order up Waymo minivans; Texas, where Kroger groceries are ferried around by windowless, driverless pods from Nuro; and Florida, where Voyage zips octogenarians around one of the country’s largest retirement communities. Silberg calls these “islands of autonomy,” relatively static areas that have been thoroughly scanned, mapped and stress-tested by artificial intelligence algorithms. In the next two years, they’ll start popping up all over the place, he reckons.

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

.../ continued from previous page

As would-be autonomous forces have aligned, it has become easier for investors to place bets. Since 2009, the companies working on robocars have disclosed at least $14 billion worth of investment. What was essentially risky venture capital slung scattershot across dozens of startups has condensed into something more akin to private equity: market-making mountains of money getting behind a few select efforts. Nuro, which rounded up $1 billion from SoftBank, said the cash being deposited in the self-driving landscape has provided a critical slug of optimism. “It doesn’t change our plan or our mission, but it gives partners a lot of confidence that we’re going to be around,” co-

founder Dave Ferguson said. “It gives us the opportunity to really take a stab at this.”

The novel coronavirus, however, is likely to decimate the field. The most likely dropouts are smaller, less-capitalised startups, as well as large companies for which selfdriving technology is secondary to, say, making cars. As companies switch into survival mode, noncritical expenses will be cut ruthlessly, according to Gartner analyst Mike Ramsey. “A lot of these efforts may just cease to exist without so much as a Medium post to flag it,” he said. “I anticipate we’re going to see a pretty big winnowing.” Still, the economic case for cheaper

shipping costs has improved drastically in the past month, as a huge chunk of the retail market— from groceries to gourmet dining— shifted online. “The virus has both broadened and accelerated the use case,” Silberg explained. Burns, the former General Motors executive, figures that safe, ubiquitous self-driving vehicles are likely to cut at least half of the costs from trucking freight. This is the market-warping potential that SoftBank, Kleiner Perkins and others are betting on—the microeconomics that automakers can no longer afford to ignore. “Even the best of the best are going to be feeling a lot of pressure right now,” he said. “But if I was sitting on a big pile of money, and I believed autonomous was inevitable—which I do—this would be a good play.”

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DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

Do you need a WWCC or WWVP? Every Australian State and Territory has rules regarding the calibre of people allowed to work regularly with children. ACT and Tasmania even extend this rule to include those who work with adults who are disadvantaged, and the applicant must pass a Working With Vulnerable Persons (WWVP) check. In the other States the applicant must undergo and attain a Working With Children Check.

ride-share vehicles (industry drivers) in Australia varies from State to State. ACT, South Australia and Tasmania require all industry drivers to have a WWVP or WWCC. Yet in all other States and NT the industry drivers are only required to have a current WWCC or WWVP if they are providing a service that is specifically for children.

The government requirement for drivers of taxis, hire cars, limousines and

All around Australia this industry has been hit severely by the COVID-19 pandemic and is only just now starting to get back on its feet. The industry

drivers who have remained working during this crisis have built a great rapport with their passengers. There is currently great community confidence in our industry and now is probably a good time to build on that by insisting that all industry drivers must have a WWCC or WWVP. Surely our travelling public deserve to be protected and assured that their driver is fit and proper to be transporting them.

State

Check

Tax i / Hire Car / Limousine / Ride-Share

ACT

WWVP

Yes for all Drivers

New South Wales

W W CC

Yes, if the transport service is specifically for children.

Northern Territory

W W CC

Yes, if the transport service is specifically for children.

Queensland

W W CC

Yes, if the transport service is specifically for children.

South Australia

W W CC

Yes for all Drivers

Tasmania

WWVP

Yes for all Drivers

Victoria

W W CC

Yes, if the taxi work involves school runs or transporting children regularly OR Yes, if the transport service is specifically for children.

Western Australia

W W CC

Yes, if the service is specifically for children.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR PASSENGERS

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INDUSTRY NEWS

NEW SOUTH WALES

COVID-19 Impact on the NSW Taxi Industry

NEWS

The NSW Taxi industry has seen a significant impact on the demand for Taxis since the COVID-19 pandemic hit NSW. We have seen up to a 90% drop in fares, particularly during the night-time trade, since the closure of pubs, clubs and other venues. We have also seen a significant drop in the day trade with no events, and restrictions imposed at Sydney Airport, as well as airports across Regional NSW. Just across the March 2020 to April 2020 period, we have seen over 2,800 Taxi plates go on hold in Sydney Metropolitan Region, and 98 plates go on hold in Regional and Country NSW. These are vehicles that have been de-registered and parked, as a result of the drop in demand. Operators have found it near impossible to meet the high operating costs to keep a Taxi on the road, during this difficult time. The Federal Government stimulus assistance has been a welcome relief for some. This assistance goes some way to put food on the table and keep a roof over one's head. However, this assistance has been quite short in helping meet the operating costs of running a Taxi. These high government costs include CTP, Registration, Insurances, Worker's Compensation, to name a few. The NSW Taxi Council recognised these industry wide issues and asked the NSW Government to step in with a Taxi stimulus assistance package to help keep the Taxis on the road. The NSW Taxi

Council submitted a proposal to NSW Treasury over two months ago. As a result, the NSW Government has finally stepped in to assist the industry with a much-needed assistance package of $12.6 million announced on 22 May 2020. The NSW Taxi Council is grateful for the NSW Government support to the NSW Taxi Industry, and this assistance will provide welcomed relief for Taxi

Operators in helping address some of the high government costs involved in keeping their Taxis on the road. The NSW Taxi Council has been working with the government for some time now and this announcement is certainly welcomed. Overall, whilst the industry continues to go through a tough and challenging period, because of the recent events of bushfires in regional NSW and the global pandemic, this

support from the government is critical for the NSW Taxi Industry to ride out the wave of these difficult times. Taxis continue providing an essential and safe mode of transport in clean and sanitised vehicles to the people of NSW as well as the vulnerable members of the NSW community. Therefore, it is vital that we help convey passengers to where they need to go in a quicker manner, with exclusive access for Taxis to the bus lanes.

ZERO Taxi Licences to be issued in NSW in 2020/21 Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has recently made a determination about the number of Taxi licences to be issued in the year commencing on 1 July 2020. They determined that: 1.

Zero Taxi licences to be issued for Sydney (the Metropolitan Transport District)

Zero Taxi licences to be issued for areas of NSW outside the Metropolitan Transport District.

TfNSW considered Sydney and regional areas separately, which is appropriate considering the different operating environment and markets, and consistent with the

approach taken by the Point to Point Transport Taskforce in its review of the point to point transport industry in 2015. The determination was made after considering the factors set out in section 73 of the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Act 2017, and the submissions of industry stakeholders. Due to the already significant economic impacts of COVID-19 travel restrictions and social isolation measures, and the uncertainty of further impacts as the situation evolves, TfNSW considers it is not appropriate to issue additional taxi licences for 2020/21.

DRIVE A2B magazine Âˇ www.drivea2b.com.au Âˇ June 2020

NEW SOUTH WALES

ASSISTANCE PACKAGE

NEWS

NSW Taxi Industry Stimulus Support Package The NSW Taxi Council has been advocating for and working with the NSW Government and the Point to Point Transport Commission over the past few months for a NSW Taxi Industry specific assistance package to support the Industry get through the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A $12.6 Million NSW Taxi Industry Support Package was announced on 22 May 2020 by the NSW Government which will provide much needed financial relief to the stakeholders of NSW Taxi Industry in Sydney as well as Regional NSW, who have been significantly impacted by the reduction in demand for Taxis and the ensuing challenges

as a result of the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The support package specifically focuses on reducing the costs involved in keeping the Taxis on the road including the CTP, Registration and Insurances. This assistance will also provide much needed financial support for WAT vehicle owners, owners of registered Taxis, holders of annual renewable Taxi licences as well as many service providers, to get through this challenging and trying period. The key highlights of the package are as follows: •

owners to ensure they can continue to provide services to the most vulnerable members of our community. This support will provide $2,900 to the owner of each registered WAT reflecting a six-month subsidy of CTP insurance, registration fees and other on road costs. •

$2.52 million in financial assistance to WAT vehicle

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

$7.54 million to provide support for the owners of other registered taxis as at 1 May. This will provide $2,900 to the owner of each vehicle registered as a non-WAT vehicle on 1 May 2020 reflecting a

six-month subsidy of CTP insurance, registration fees and other on road costs. Any vehicle deregistered since 1 May 2020 can be reregistered by 30 June 2020 to be eligible. •

Point to Point Transport Vehicle Sanitisation Station Trial

$1.55m has been set aside to cover up to six months of the taxi licence fee to holders of annual renewable Taxi licences issued by the NSW Government. This will provide around $7,000 assistance to these holders of annual licences.

•

$968,000 has been set aside to provide a waiver of the first $500 payable of the 2018/19 authorisation fees for all authorised service providers, which includes Taxi service providers and booking service providers.

Applications for the support package are expected to start in June 2020 via Service NSW website and Service NSW Centres.

The first Sanitisation Station Program for Regional/Country NSW was opened on Tuesday 19 May 2020 in Dubbo. The Sanitisation Station has been set up at Dubbo Buslines and will service all Point to Point vehicles in Dubbo and surrounding areas. The President of the Country Taxis Operator Association, Mr Geoff Ferris said, “This was a great opportunity for

the Dubbo Region to offer this service, to re-assure the local community that ongoing cleaning practices were in place in order to protect passengers and drivers from COVID-19”. An official media announcement event was held on Wednesday 20 May 2020, with Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Paul Toole, together with Local Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders also in attendance.

Whilst this package is welcomed in supporting the Taxis that are currently operating, the next challenge for the NSW Taxi Industry is to see how we get the over 3,000 Taxis that are currently de-registered back into circulation. DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

NEW SOUTH WALES

COUNCIL UPDATE

NEWS

Supporting members through the Point to Point Transport Reviews The NSW Government Independent Review into Point to Point Transport is being Chaired by Sue BakerFinch. Submissions for this review closed on Friday 22 May, 2020. The NSW Taxi Council worked with TfNSW on developing a plan for the Chair of the review to consult with industry stakeholders. Due to COVID-19 restrictions face to face and roundtable consultations were not possible, yet it was important this review went ahead.

TfNSW utilised technology to have consultation meetings. Both Metro and CTOA stakeholders were involved in a number of Zoom sessions. This included owners, networks, operators and drivers. There is also a Parliamentary Inquiry underway looking into the operation of the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles Act) 2016. The closing date for submissions was Sunday 31 May, 2020.

For both reviews, NSW Taxi Council held a number of consultation sessions with members – networks, owners, operators and drivers. Details on terms of reference and how to make a submission were sent to NSW Taxi Council and CTOA Members, together with a discussion paper for members to consider when making their own submission. The NSW Taxi Council has made a submission for both the reviews.

Online Driver

Onboarding The NSW Taxi Council has now started delivering online driver onboarding to ensure applicants can complete the onboarding process in a timely and efficient manner with the social distancing guidelines currently in place. Drivers can now be trained in the comfort of their own homes via delivery of Online Training via Zoom.

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

Dutch company, Driver Bubble™, distributes innovative protective screens across the world to help taxi and rideshare drivers and fleets stay connected with their passengers and on the road amidst the current health situation. Sparked by the current health situation, a decline in revenue and a desire to keep everyone on the team employed throughout the pandemic, Taxi Butler, a company serving the transportation industry for over 7 years, launched Driver Bubble™. The Driver Bubble™ is designed to help taxi drivers and fleets stay on the road and drive more responsibly. The products are transparent separation screens that fit right into vehicles and help shield passengers and drivers alike. Co-founder of Taxi Butler and Driver Bubble™, Steven Blom, said “At our company we are constantly looking for more innovative ways of creating and supporting the connection between people, it’s the foundation

Need

LEGAL

assistance?

of everything we do. Despite the current health climate, we truly believed that people should feel safe, connected and confident in their ability to travel, that’s why we came up with the Driver Bubble™”. The company started its operations at the end of March and is already selling thousands of protective screens for cars. “We started off with a simple, flexible screen, but soon realised that we could do more to help people stay connected and now have products for almost every type of car available”, Steven mentioned. The two types of Driver Bubble™ are currently available for fleets and

drivers to purchase are: 1.

The Driver Bubble™ Flex - a flexible PVC plastic screen designed to be an affordable and durable solution for drivers and fleets; and

The Driver Bubble™ Shield - a rigid polycarbonate plastic shield made for a stronger and more robust protection.

Easy to clean, simple to install and affordable, the Driver Bubble™ is growing fast because every customer and driver feels more safe, connected and empowered to travel again. For more information visit https:// driverbubble.com.

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DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

Taxation

Cars.com photo illustration by Desiree Farkas; photos by Christian Lantry

Common car touch points must be cleaned with minimum 70% isopropyl alcohol 30

The common car touch points include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Key/remote and/or Engine start button Door handle(s) and boot handle Boot release (internal) Seat adjustment controls (and seat memory buttons) Rearview mirror and side mirror controls Window controls Hand brake Whole steering wheel, buttons and tilt/ telescope adjustment Indicators and wiper stalks Seat belt buckle (receptacle and tongue) Gear Shift Touchscreen All dashboard controls Any centre console controls Overhead controls Grab handles Armrests, centre console latch Glove box, air vents, etc. Radio mouthpiece (if applicable)

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

OVERSEAS

news

Unite the Union accuses taxi app Gett of “greed” and “profiteering” after raising driver fees by Perry Richardson taxi-point.co.uk

Gett announced last month that it will increase the commission it takes when a customer books a journey through the app from 15% to 20%, which equates to a 33% increase. The increased charge will come into effect from Monday 8 June. Taxi driver representatives, Unite the Union, say the increase in commission charges comes at a time when the UK’s 82,000 taxi drivers have seen their incomes collapse as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With customers unlikely to be hailing cabs from the street or risk queuing at taxi ranks, drivers are increasingly reliant on apps such as Gett to generate work. In the announcement to drivers last month, Gett claimed the increase in commission was due to a decrease in demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unite the Union has however been critical, saying there

was no suggestion that the increase was temporary or for a limited period should work levels return.

increasingly vital for many taxi drivers in order to try to scrape together a living.”

According to Gett sources, the taxi app has made cuts in every department with all staff taking a 15% pay cut and the global CEO cutting his pay to zero.

“Unite has called on the government to provide specific help and assistance for taxi drivers but those calls have so far been ignored.”

Unite national officer for passenger transport, Bobby Morton, said: “Gett is being greedy, at a time when our taxi driver members have seen their incomes evaporate overnight. This increase is just another kick in the teeth”. “This is a classic case of profiteering in the pandemic. If this was a genuine short-term measure as a result of COVID-19, the company would have said that and provided a commitment to when commission rates will be reduced.” “Due to the need to socially distance and the effect that COVID-19 has had on individual behaviour, bookings through apps such as Gett are

A Gett spokesperson responded to Unite's statement, saying: “We know that times are tough for Black Cab drivers right now which is why we're working round the clock to get work back for cabbies in London”. “The change to commission will allow us to continue investing millions of pounds every year in our app, our corporate account sales teams and our 24/7/365 contact centre. In fact, every penny will be reinvested into enhancing and maintaining our service.” “We believe we remain the best option for Black Cab drivers in London who are looking for extra cash in their pockets at the end of the day.”

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

The pandemic’s impact has been perhaps most visible on city streets. First emptied out by travel restrictions, now many urban roadways are seeing a surge in bike and pedestrian traffic as people settle into new routines. From London to Bogota, cities are closing off miles of roads to cars to make way. Bike stores are selling out of stock.

by Ani Dasgupta Global Director WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Shifting the balance of public space from cars to walkers and bikers can not only help during the pandemic but provides wider-ranging benefits, too. Expanding bike infrastructure and pedestrianising streets

can improve public health and quality of life, reduce air pollution and carbon emissions, stimulate the economy, provide more equitable access to opportunity, and help cities be more resilient to future shocks. Cities like Milan and Paris say their street transformations will be permanent, part of a shift towards more sustainable, more livable urbanism. Our experience working on “complete streets” interventions in Brazil has taught us valuable lessons about what it takes to scale up and maintain street

The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) will send approximately 15.5 million cloth facial coverings to the nation’s transportation workforce.

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The distribution of these includes 4.8 million for mass transit and passenger rail, as well as

transformations for the long haul. It’s not necessarily simple, but designed carefully, with community engagement and support from a network of city peers, street transformations can be successful in the long term. They are demand-driven, rather than top-down. They help cities be more inclusive. And they provide cross-cutting benefits. As governments search for ways to respond to and recover from COVID-19, complete streets should be high on the priority list.

2.1 million for highway and motor carriers. In response to COVID-19 public health emergency, the focus at U.S. DOT has been keeping transportation systems safe and operational so America’s economy can come back strong. Response measures have included stakeholder outreach and guidance, expanded Federal financial assistance, and regulatory relief.

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DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

STARTING FROM

AMAZON TAKE ON UBER & LYFT with a Zoox Acquisition by Eric J. Savitz

Here’s an idea that should have Uber Technologies and Lyft deeply worried: What if Amazon.com decided to enter the ride-sharing market?

the last Zoox investment round, which came at $3.2 billion in 2018. Zoox has raised $955 million since its founding in 2014, according to Crunchbase.

Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak floated that idea in response to a Wall Street Journal report last night that said Amazon is in “advanced talks” to acquire Zoox, a company working on autonomous vehicles.

The story notes that Zoox is working on hardware and software that could be used to create electric-powered robot taxis that could be ordered up by smartphone.

The Wall Street Journal story said a deal would be at a valuation below

In a research note in response to the Wall Street Journal story, Nowak lays out four reasons he

thinks Amazon should invest in autonomous driving. One, he says it could lead to a more-efficient delivery network. “In our view, the value of cost-effective shipping is likely to only rise given the inflection we are seeing in e-commerce in 2020,” he writes. Two, on a related note, he writes that there are material potential long-term savings, as shipping remains one of the company’s largest expense challenges. He notes that 2019 shipping costs

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

were 12% of gross merchandise value, and expected to reach $90 billion by 2023. He thinks an effective autonomous delivery network eventually could save the company more than $20 billion in recurring shipping costs. Three, also related to the other two, he thinks autonomous technology is a natural extension of the company’s plans to build a third-party logistics network in competition with United Parcel Service, FedEx, and the U.S. Postal Service—he sees a multibilliondollar opportunity at play. Not least, he asserts that Amazon’s “innovation focus, capital to invest, and leading shipping volumes (and the miles driven along with them) make it one of the few companies that could build a product to compete with Waymo, Uber, Lyft and others” in autonomous driving.

And by the way, the carsharing services are not the only companies that could be threatened by an Amazon dive into autonomous driving, in Nowak’s view. “If confirmed, we see this as further evidence that the ‘teracap’ platforms [companies with market caps over $1 trillion] are a force

to be reckoned with in the AV race,” he writes. “In a post-Covid world, we believe fewer and more powerful players will be in position to deploy capital and talent to solving autonomy with a ‘play to win’ mindset. We see Amazon (and other tech players) as clear competitors, not partners, versus the likes of Tesla and General Motors.”

HOW TO LOOK OUT FOR A WORKMATE IN 4 STEPS 1. Ask ‘R U OK?’ 2. Listen without judgement

And here’s the kicker: “Over time, this acquisition would also open the door for Amazon to potentially begin to compete in the ride sharing and food-delivery industries,” he writes. Nowak theorises that Amazon could offer discount ride-sharing to Prime members—a move he thinks would be “a meaningful driver of Prime growth, retention and pricing power.” He sees ridesharing as a $60 billion bookings opportunity in the U.S. alone by 2023.

3. Encourage action

4. Check-in

Visit ruok.org.au for more info on how to be the kind of person to ask ‘R U OK?’

Uber and Lyft didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

CRIME STOPPERS!

Are YOU helping them to stop crime? An independent national survey commissioned by Crime Stoppers Australia has revealed as many as 1 in 5 Australians choose to turn a blind eye to unsolved crime and suspicious activity rather than speaking out. While over half of respondents said they were prepared to speak up, those who wouldn’t said they were held back because of personal concerns (79%) – primarily because they didn’t want to get involved or were concerned for their own safety. Crime Stoppers Australia Chair, Diana Forrester said the research found a number of respondents second-guessed themselves before picking up the phone or going online to make contact, even though all types of crime information was welcomed. “We want people to know that even the most insignificant piece of information might be all it takes

for police to solve a crime, and we welcome information about every type of crime, no matter how big or small,” she said. “It may be an overheard conversation, odd neighbourhood comings or goings, or something that just doesn’t feel right – and that’s the very time that people should listen to their instinct and share what they know with Crime Stoppers without having to worry about getting further involved or going to court.” When it comes to the types of crime currently of most concern in our neighbourhoods, the research found people are most worried about becoming a victim of theft or robbery (83%), while nearly half (43%) are also concerned about the impact of drugs in their local community. “Even though most people are selfisolating at home right now, they can still keep an eye out for something that doesn’t sit right and speak up.

We want to empower people by reminding them that Crime Stoppers is here for everyone and every crime, every piece of information can make a difference and a safer community can be achieved by people contacting us.” Many people surveyed said that: •

not having to provide personal details encourages them to contact Crime Stoppers

•

Crime Stoppers plays an important role in keeping the community safe

•

Crime Stoppers is a reporting service they trust

In Australia, someone contacts Crime Stoppers every two minutes to share information about an array of unsolved crimes and suspicious activity, that is then passed to police and leads to an average of 100 apprehensions every week across the nation for a range of crimes.

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · June 2020

TRADE

YOU COULD DEFINITELY