Bans fall to zero as Uber drivers adjust to law

Nearly 100 passenger drivers were banned last year by the New Zealand Transport Agency for failing to have their required passenger or “P” endorsement.

While NZTA data does not detail which company each banned driver worked for, it was likely many were issued to Uber drivers, the agency confirmed.

The number of prohibition notices issued ballooned from 29 in 2016 to 96 by the end of September last year as Uber spread throughout the country, before dropping to zero after the law was amended in October.

In addition, 117 warnings were issued for missing P endorsements last year but only one was handed out after the law change.

This was a reduction on 2016, when 139 warnings were given out.

Uber did not previously require its drivers to hold a P endorsement, but agreed to change its policy, bringing it into line with the Land Transport Amendment Bill 2017 changes.

The bill was passed in October, after which the number of prohibition notices issued by the NZTA dropped to zero and stayed there.

An Uber spokeswoman said all the ride-sharing company’s drivers were now required to have their P endorsement, and the company had obtained the appropriate Small Passenger Service Licence needed to operate a small passenger service.

The endorsement included a police check and evidence drivers were completing log books, complying with work time and had a current warrant of fitness for their vehicle.

“We believe the new framework will benefit both riders and drivers because it makes it faster and more affordable for drivers to get on the road, while prioritising safety,” the spokeswoman said.

NZTA spokesman Andrew Knackstedt said “things had moved on considerably” since November 2016, when the Herald first ran a story about Uber flouting the law.

“The NZ Transport Agency is actively working with Uber, as we are with other operators, to ensure that they understand and comply with the new rules.”

He said NZTA was happy with the company’s compliance.