Cabbies call for more protection

Category: Assaults

A CAIRNS taxi owner has called for security screens to be made compulsory in all cabs after one of his drivers was assaulted and his taxi was severely damaged during a drunken weekend attack.

Glen Baker, who has been driving taxis in the Far North for 20 years, said security cameras in cabs did little to protect drivers.

He was left with a repair bill of more than $1000 after an irate and drunk passenger attacked one of his drivers and destroyed the dashboard of his Toyota Hiace maxi taxi at Mt Sheridan on Friday night.

It was the third time the driver, Rob Valinoti, has been targeted by thugs while at work.

Previously, he has been punched in the head and had a window smashed.

Mr Valinoti was yesterday still shaken after Friday night’s incident.

"When you have a bloke lunging at you with his fists flying at your face, it is not good at all," he said.

The attack, which started when other passengers in the car decided they did not want the man sharing their cab fare, has led to calls from Mr Baker for better security to protect taxi drivers.

"It is about time they introduced cages or security screens into the taxis to protect the driver," Mr Baker said.

"The cameras are good for capturing evidence but they won't stop someone with a knife.

"I am of the belief that when people decide to go off, they don't care whether a camera is there or not.

"I don't think it acts as a deterrent at all."

Mr Baker said under current regulations it was the owner's choice whether to install a security screen, something he said he would now consider.

He said it was only a matter of time before the lack of taxi security led to a serious assault.

"It is not going to be too long before someone is seriously injured, or worse," he said.

"The safety issue for drivers at night time is still there, with or without the cameras.

"I know a lot of the drivers and owners don’t like what I am saying, but I would hate to have someone stabbed in the taxi, especially when they are just trying to make a living."

Mr Baker said arguments that the screen would make a taxi ride less personal had to be weighed up against ensuring the safety of a driver.

"There is a lot of arguments that having a security screen becomes impersonal, but I don’t believe that to be the case," he said.

"I feel prevention is better than the cure."

Mr Valinoti said he too would support the move to make security screens mandatory.

"I agree with them now, definitely," he said.

"There needs to be some sort of protection there."

Mr Valinoti said he would make a statement to police this morning while the taxi's security camera footage would also be examined.

The taxi is expected to be off the road for at least a week