Uber bans soar during war over licences
Legal commercial drivers ‘very frustrated’ in row over P endorsements. By Michael Hayward.
‘‘Hopefully I could bring her here too. It’s time to start my own family.’’
He feels grateful for the opportunity his family’s been given.
‘‘I would like to thank the people of New Zealand, the Government and everyone who’s helped my family to build a new life, and to have a safe life, here in New Zealand. I’m really happy.’’ MORE than 80 Uber drivers have been banned from driving commercially, and hundreds more have been fined for not complying with commercial driving regulations.
The ride-share company does not require its drivers to get a passenger ‘P’ licence endorsement – a legal necessity to transport people commercially – frustrating both taxi operators and other Uber drivers who have the correct paperwork.
The latest available New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) figures show 81 Uber drivers have been banned from driving commercially.
Of those, 52 were in Auckland, 28 in Christchurch, and one in Wellington. The bans have skyrocketed since January this year, when only 29 had been imposed.
The figures also reveal 189 infringement notices have been handed out, with fines ranging from $600 to $150. They included 98 for the lack of the correct vehicle inspection, and 55 for failing to have the required endorsements.
Most of the fines or bans were the result of complaints to the NZTA. The majority are in Christchurch because the company ditched a requirement for drivers to have a P endorsement when it launched there in March 2017.
Uber instead implemented its own driver vetting process which was faster and significantly cheaper than getting a P endorsement.
The NZTA decided this was illegal and less rigorous, and encouraged Uber drivers to be aware of their legal requirements.
Go with Jo dial-a-driver owner Jo Manson has been driving for Uber part-time since the company launched in Christchurch last April, and has all the relevant licences, certificates and insurance.
Manson, who uses Uber regularly to get back to her car after driving customers home in theirs, said: ‘‘In all the Uber drivers I’ve had, there’s a hell of a lot more unlicensed than licensed.’’
Legal drivers were ‘‘all very frustrated’’ that others were doing the same work without spending the money or time to meet the legal requirements.
She said many drivers were fully compliant, and a lot who started without the right licences but had obtained them since.
But she had also heard of ‘‘horror stories’’ where drivers without the right insurance had been in an accident, and gone to drop off their customers before returning to the scene. Blue Star Taxi shareholder Jaspinder Pal Singh said competition was always welcome but there needed to be ‘‘a level playing field for everyone’’.
He said taxi drivers had expended the time and money on the appropriate licences, while Uber drivers just jumped in the car and use the GPS on their phone.
‘‘If we have everything, they should have everything.’’
When asked about drivers operating illegally, an Uber spokesman said the company welcomed the Government’s commitment to making the P endorsement more accessible to Kiwis.
‘‘In the meantime, we’ll continue providing our safe, fast and affordable screening process that delivers the safety outcomes the travelling public want and expect.’’
The Land Transport Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, would ease the process of obtaining a P endorsement, which Uber has campaigned for. The bill passed a second reading in late May.
Uber is established in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, and is setting up in Hamilton. Tauranga is also in the company’s sights. About 300,000 New Zealanders use the service, which has about 4000 Kiwi drivers.
In all the Uber drivers I’ve had, there’s a hell of a lot more unlicensed than licensed.’ DIAL-A-DRIVER OWNER JO MANSON