City of Montreal unveils plan to improve taxi driver safety

The City of Montreal is aiming have a new set of taxi policies in placeby August, including new security measures such asmandatory cameras in all cabs, Mayor Denis Coderre announced Monday.

The Citys taxi commissionreleased a report in Maythat highlighted the need for cameras intaxis, among other security measures for drivers.

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The commissions study was sparked by the deathof taxi driver Ziad Bouzid. Hewas shot and killed in his taxi in November 2013.

I say it often and I repeat taxi drivers are our ambassadors, and they are important contributors to mobility in Montreal. Lets give them the framework they need for their safety and for assuring first rate customer service, Coderre said in a newsrelease.

While it sets out to providea measure of added security for cab drivers, the Citys new taxi policyalso aims toprotect passengers privacy.

Coderre said footage from the cameras would only be available to police investigators.

The City of Montreal isnow looking at ways to help with the cost of installing security cameras in Montreal taxis.

The mayor said GPS for cabs would also be mandatory, in order to allow first responders to quickly locate a cab driver or passenger in distress.

Electronic payment devices will also be required intaxis to reduce boththe amount of cash on drivers andcrimes of opportunity against them.

Dory Saliba, head of Quebecs taxi industry committee, welcomed the new measures.

In the long term, drivers will accept that this is important for their safety, he said.