VIC Taxis - Removal of vehicle age limits

[baboon]

Only just realised that last year effective 29 July 2016, the Victorian Taxis and hire cars age limits no longer apply.

From: http://taxi.vic.gov.au/owners-and-op...cle-age-limits

Removal of vehicle age limits
Effective 29 July 2016, the Taxi Services Commission (TSC) has determined that taxi and hire car age limits will no longer apply.

Classification of Victorian vehicles as hire cars PDF, 237.2 KB

This determination is based on research undertaken by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) to assess whether existing taxi and hire car age limits are appropriate and the implications between the age limits and vehicle safety.

MUARC's research found that there was no clear correlation between the age of a vehicle and its crash risk. Available evidence suggests that the link between roadworthiness and crash risk is weak.

The MUARC report also found that, while regular vehicle regeneration is critical to ensure that the taxi and hire car fleet has the most up-to-date safety features, imposing age limits may not be the most effective method to ensure this regeneration, as retirement of vehicles appears to be largely driven by economic factors (for example, increased maintenance costs as vehicles age), not age limits.

As a result, the TSC has removed age limits for all taxi-cabs and hire cars.

Despite removing age limits, taxi and hire car operators are responsible for ensuring that vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition at all times. Vehicle safety continues to be a major focus of the TSC's compliance and enforcement program.

Nice change, maybe we'll see the BA/BF wagons on the roads much longer now. Might even see some older Falcons as taxis soon...