Illegal dial-a-driver services in Transport Agency's sights

Some nights there's a huge demand and people just can't access those services.Lex Armitage, Kamo Hotel
Illegal dial-a-driver services in Whangarei are in the sights of the New Zealand Transport Agency.
The NZTA is including a close look at the city's dial-a-driver services as part of an upcoming routine review of licensed passenger services, but may face a "smoke and mirrors" situation because these services do not have to be registered with the agency.
Dial-a-driver is a business where an operator drives clients home in their own cars, usually because of excess alcohol consumption. Operators must have "passenger endorsement" ("P endorsement") to run the service, obtained through the NZTA's driver licensing section.
The NZTA knows exactly who is "P endorsed" but has no idea who is involved in dial-a-driver services - or if providers have the endorsement required by law.
One operator contacted by the Advocate, used regularly by a Whangarei bar, said she had no idea she was operating illegally by not having P endorsement and asked how to get one.
The NZTA's Auckland/Northland manager for access and use, Andrew Thackwray, says the agency has become aware of concerns being expressed about the services being operated in Whangarei. As part of the review process NZTA "would examine the provisions of the legislation and consider whether any recommendations were needed for changes to facilitate improved regulation of the dial-a-driver services".
The only dial-a-driver service listed in the Whangarei section of the telephone book is Pro-Drive, but there are several others operating through Whangarei bars and restaurants under names like The Skippy Guys, Dial A Driver, Elite Driver, Home Drive and P-endorsed Bill Tomlin's Night Rider. There are reports that these are sometimes being used as taxis - which must be registered and are subject to stringent personal and vehicle safety controls - at
times of peak demand because of long waits for taxis. One bar patron reportedly waited three hours for a taxi during the recent festive season.
There are currently only two approved taxi firms in Whangarei, Kiwi Cabs and A1 Cabs, running between 40 and 50 taxis. Lex Armitage, of Kamo Hotel, says taxi services are reluctant to serve areas outside the CBD on busy nights.
"It's extremely frustrating. Some nights there's a huge demand and people just can't access those services."
She said the business was committed to looking after customers and prepared to subsidise safe transport home by services.
A police spokesperson said this week that anyone with concerns about a dial-a-driver service could lodge a complaint at the Whangarei Police Station.
P endorsement involves a range of driver licence, medical, identification and security checks, and issuing of an individual number. Registration costs $106.80 for a year or $422.20 for five years.