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24 Feb 2020

Tyre safety blitz starts in March

Don’t risk driving on worn or damaged tyres.

That’s the message from Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria as it launches a month-long blitz focused on tyre safety.

Unroadworthy tyres are dangerous. They put drivers, passengers and other road users at risk.

Throughout March 2020, authorised officers will be carrying out additional checks on commercial passenger vehicles across Victoria looking specifically for issues with tyres.

Any vehicles with unroadworthy tyres can be taken off the road – and the driver or vehicle owner can be fined $413.

While the focus of the March blitz will be tyre safety, officers will also be checking vehicles for other issues. Drivers, vehicle owners and booking service providers are urged to check that they are complying with all their safety responsibilities.

Commercial passenger vehicle drivers should make sure their vehicle is safe to drive before every shift – and that includes checking the tyres for signs of wear or damage.

For more information on driver responsibilities, visit: Industry code of practice.

24 Feb 2020

New industry guidance released: CPV Industry Code of Practice - Part 2

There’s new guidance to support members of the CPV industry meet legal requirements to operate.

The Victorian Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Code of Practice (the Code), Part 2 – Meeting your safety duties provides practical guidance on how those in the industry can comply with their safety responsibilities, also known as safety duties.

Part 2 has detailed reference tables for each of the following safety duty holders:

  • Drivers
  • Vehicle owners
  • Booking service providers
  • Persons with control over the provision of commercial passenger vehicle services
  • Suppliers of services or equipment.

Some of the topics covered include:

  • vehicle operation, maintenance and servicing
  • safety/accessibility equipment, security cameras and vehicle signage
  • driver accreditation, training and instruction on the use of vehicles
  • customer service and acting in a professional way
  • reporting of notifiable incidents and safety risks
  • communication with other safety duty holders.

Part 1 of the Code details a risk management process for the industry so they can take steps to control, eliminate or mitigate risks in a manner suited to the size and nature of their commercial passenger vehicle, equipment or service business. Part 1 was published in July 2019.

Find out more in: Industry code of practice.

16 Jan 2020

Signage blitz leads to $50,000 in fines

Fines totalling almost $50,000 have been issued to drivers during a month-long blitz on commercial passenger vehicle signage.

By law, drivers of booked commercial passenger vehicle services must display a sign, symbol, notice or label identifying it as a CPV when it is in service. This signage must be positioned so it cannot be removed by someone sitting in the driver’s seat.

Learn more about vehicle identification.

Throughout December 2019, Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria carried out extra checks on vehicles operating across Victoria. As well as checking signage, authorised officers looked for other breaches of legislation.

While the vast majority of drivers were found to be doing the right thing and sticking to the law, a total of 26 infringement notices were issued.

  • Twenty were for failing to indicate the vehicle was a CPV (each offence carrying a fine of $1,983)
  • Two were for positioning the CPV signage where it could be removed ($413)
  • Three were for providing a CPV service without driver accreditation ($1,983)
  • One was for failing to carry a certificate of accreditation while driving ($207)

The signage blitz was the first in a series of targeted campaigns organised by CPVV to draw attention to particular safety and regulatory issues. These are in addition to the regular checks carried out all year round.

Throughout January and February 2020, CPVV is focusing on ensuring harnesses and restraints in wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) are in good working order.

Learn more about the requirements for WAVs.

16 Dec 2019

Blitz puts wheelchair users’ safety first

Booking service providers and drivers and owners of wheelchair accessible commercial passenger vehicles (WAVs) are being warned to make sure all seatbelts and wheelchair harnesses are in good working order ahead of a safety blitz next month.

Throughout January and February, Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria will be carrying out extra checks on WAVs to make sure these vital pieces of safety equipment are not putting any passengers at risk.

Some of the most vulnerable members of our community use WAVs for transport and their safety is our priority.

Authorised officers will be working across the state throughout January to identify any WAVs with poorly maintained equipment.

It’s part of a campaign targeting specific safety issues in addition to the regular checks carried out all year round.

Any WAVs with defective seatbelts and/or harnesses will be taken off the road until the issues are rectified.

Spot checks will be carried out on the road, as well as at CPVV’s Quality Assurance Centre. While the focus of the January blitz is wheelchair restraints, CPVV officers will also be checking vehicles for other issues – so it’s a good time for everyone to make sure they are complying with the law.

Owners and drivers of WAVs must meet a range of important requirements to ensure the safety of passengers. These include making sure that:

  • each vehicle has the necessary restraint systems to safely secure each wheelchair and its occupant
  • the vehicle has a functioning air conditioner/heater
  • all the equipment is maintained in good working order.

The full requirements for WAVs can be found here.

Learn more about travelling with a disability.

Stay up-to-date with our compliance activities by following us on Facebook.

04 Dec 2019

Touting for commercial passenger vehicle services is now illegal in Victoria

Touting for commercial passenger vehicle services is now illegal in Victoria.

That means anyone who approaches potential customers directly, or holds up a sign offering these services, is breaking the law.

The new legislation comes into force today and covers taxis, rideshares and hire cars. Offenders face fines of almost $10,000.

Touting is a particular issue at Melbourne Airport.

CPVV will be working with the Airport to ensure commercial passenger vehicle drivers and passengers are aware of the new legislation. They will take action against anyone caught breaking the law.

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