Vic:Cab drivers cause traffic mayhem over safety

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2006
Vic:Cab drivers cause traffic mayhem over safety

MELBOURNE, Aug 11 AAP - Traffic came to a standstill in central Melbourne because of
a protest by dozens of taxi drivers demanding safety improvements following the death
of a driver.

About 50 agitated drivers sat down in Flinders Street outside Federation Square, where
Premier Steve Bracks was due to arrive for an event.

They blocked cars and trams in both directions, causing traffic mayhem.

The cabbies chanted to the crowd, with one driver yelling: "Melbourne, what are you
doing to us. Why are you killing us? Where is the premier?"

The cabbies earlier marched to Federation Square from the steps of parliament house,
where they chanted: "We are humans ... we want protection".

The protest followed the death on Tuesday night of cabbie Rajneesh Joga, 27, after
he picked up an alleged car thief, who then attempted to commandeer the taxi.

Mr Joga suffered head and chest injuries when the cab crashed into a tree, and he died
in a Melbourne hospital several hours later.

Ravinder Kumar, one of the rally organisers, said today the drivers wanted to meet
with both Transport Minister Peter Batchelor and the Victorian Taxi Directorate, the industry
regulator, to put their concerns.

Cabbies want a number of safety measures introduced, including protective screens and
distress lights that a diver can activate to warn passers-by of a problem inside the cab.

In addition, an alarm the driver can activate should go direct to police, not to the
taxi service, Mr Kumar said.

"That should be linked to the police because it can be a threat to their life. It should
go direct to the police," he said.

Mr Kumar rejected suggestions the screens were too expensive to install.

"The screen is not more expensive than a taxi driver's life," he said.

Eilyup Zaim, 20, of suburban Broadmeadows, has been charged with murder, stealing a
car and stealing petrol.

AAP nl/ce/jjs/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: TAXI PROTEST

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