WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from Australia


TAXI CO FINED $12,000 AFTER DRIVER REFUSES WOMAN IN WHEELCHAIR


A Victoria taxi company and one of its drivers have been ordered to pay $12,000 (£6,400) and implement mandatory training after refusing a woman because of her wheelchair. The incident occurred on August 20, 2021, when a woman known as “Ms. T” booked a taxi for an appointment. Accompanied by healthcare worker Ning Li, Ms. T had pre-arranged the ride and ensured she was ready outside. When driver Ehsan Khan arrived, the pair stated that Khan claimed the wheelchair would not fit in his vehicle. Ms. T explained that it folds down to the size of a suitcase and that she always takes regular taxis. Li, who had professional experience fitting similar wheelchairs into car trunks, folded the wheelchair to demonstrate that it would fit. According to the women, Khan pulled the wheelchair away, closed the boot, told them to call a disability van, and drove away. When Ms. T subsequently called Victoria Taxi, she stated that the dispatcher told her “drivers don’t want to deal with wheelchairs.” Victoria Taxi later claimed in a written submission that the dispatcher no longer worked for them and that no call record existed. British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal member Amber Prince noted that the Taxi Bill of Rights guarantees passengers the right to travel with a portable mobility aid. Prince wrote in the decision, “On the undisputed evidence before me, I find that Ms. T’s wheelchair is a portable mobility aid, because it is designed to collapse for easy transport,” adding that, “the BC Government expects that taxi drivers will handle and store portable mobility aids in their regular taxis, much like luggage.” Prince ordered Khan and Victoria Taxi to pay Ms. T $12,000 as compensation for injury to her dignity, feelings, and self-respect. Additionally, Victoria Taxi must implement mandatory training for all staff and managers regarding human rights obligations to wheelchair users, and provide written confirmation to Ms. T that she may use regular taxis and that drivers are required to assist her and her wheelchair.


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SYDNEY TAXI DRIVER BANNED AND FINED $25,000 FOR OVERCHARGING


A Sydney taxi driver has been convicted and fined a total of $25,000 (£13,300) for repeatedly charging passengers far above the maximum amounts allowed under New South Wales fare regulations. Sebastian Tony Wahli was fined $5,000 for each of his five offences. Receipts presented during the court case proved that customers were significantly overcharged by hundreds of dollars for trips between June 2024 and July 2025. In one extreme case, a passenger was charged $610 for a journey that should have only cost approximately $39.56, while another was charged $350 even though the meter displayed just $49.41. Transport Commissioner Kate Timbs emphasised that passengers have a fundamental right to expect lawful and transparent taxi fares. Ms Timbs said: “Deliberate overcharging undermines trust in the entire industry and will not be tolerated.” Mr Wahli was banned from driving taxis/hire vehicles.


from South Africa


DRIVER NABBED FOR CRAMMING 30 PASSENGERS INTO 15-SEATER MINIBUS


A KwaZulu-Natal minibus taxi driver was arrested last month after being caught transporting 30 passengers in a vehicle licensed for only 15 people. The overloaded taxi was intercepted by officers along the N2 major national highwy, as authorities ramped up road safety operations. In addition to the massive overcrowding violation, the driver was allegedly found without his driver’s licence and valid professional driving permit. KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC, Siboniso Duma, strongly condemned the driver’s actions, confirming that the operator will face multiple charges. Emphasising the severe safety hazards, Duma explained that excess weight drastically compromises a vehicle’s ability to steer and brake properly. Furthermore, the extreme load places dangerous pressure on tyres, causing them to heat up rapidly and burst, which dramatically increases the risk of a fatal crash. Authorities have urged commuters to take responsib- ility for their safety by


speaking out against


unauthorised seating arrangements, such as the use of buckets and makeshift seats inside public transport.


OCTOBER 2026 PHTM


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