The final stage of a comprehensive reform of taxi and on-demand transport in Western Australia will be in place from July 2020.<\/p>\n
Drivers who hold F and T drivers licence extensions, which are currently required to drive fare-paying passengers, will have 12 months from July to transition to a new Passenger Transport Driver (PTD) authorisation.<\/p>\n
In line with other industries where safety and suitability of workers is a major focus, such as the building trades, people driving fare-paying passengers will need to apply for authorisation and renew it each year for a fee.<\/p>\n
According to the Government of Western Australia, the on-demand transport reform package has already delivered significant improvements including more accountability for drivers and greater safety for passengers. It has also resulted in mandatory signage requirements for all on-demand vehicles, allowing customers to easily identify the service they are using.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe introduction of Passenger Transport Driver authorisations completes the biggest reform of the on-demand transport industry in Western Australia\u2019s history,\u201d said Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe community rightly expects there will be checks and balances in place to ensure people driving passengers are of fit and proper character and are medically fit – this reform helps ensure that.\u201d<\/p>\n