EDMONTON – As Edmonton taxi companies continue to fight to stop ride-sharing services operating in the city, safety is a critical element in their argument.
To highlight the difference between the safety standards taxi cabs are required to meet compared to those ride-sharing vehicles must meet, Co-Op Taxi showcased its semi-annual safety inspection Thursday morning.
Five-hundred Co-op taxis were inspected to make sure the vehicles are fit for the road.
“Twenty-four hours a day they continue to operate. They continue to operate at minus 30, minus 40. They continue to operate at two, three feet of snow,” said Jonathon Westcott, Principal at Alberta Counsel.
“So when looking at the safety of the passengers and the safety of Edmontonians, it’s important to make sure everything from the tires to the horns to the new GPS and tracking systems are all operational.”
READ MORE: Taxi drivers break out in angry protest at Edmonton city council meeting
Edmonton taxis are required to undergo regular mechanical inspections under current bylaws. Ride-sharing services aren’t regulated the same way. It’s one of the things that sets taxi companies apart from ride-sharing services like Uber, Westcott said.
“On top of that, almost all the taxi drivers undergo defensive driving courses to make sure they understand the road conditions and the types of maneuvers that are available to them in case of emergency,” said Westcott.
Westcott added a taxi cab that doesn’t pass an inspection is taken off the road.
READ MORE: Proposed vehicle-for-hire bylaw would allow Uber to operate legally in Edmonton
In September, city council passed a motion to continue the discussion around the proposed vehicle-for-hire bylaw.
The new bylaw would essentially make Uber drivers much like existing taxi drivers. It would require Uber drivers to undergo a criminal record check, have their vehicle inspected yearly and acquire a licence from the city.
The topic is set to come forward to council again in November.
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