New ground-breaking technology may offer a solution to the safety and security problem facing taxi drivers on the Island.

Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley has revealed to The Royal Gazette that a small video camera, positioned inside the taxi can help to reduce the number of incidents of robbery and assault that have been plaguing taxi drivers recently.

The cameras have been successfully utilised in Perth and New South Wales, Australia.

"They appear to be $2,000 in Australian dollars for the camera,'' Mr.

Adderley said. "But to think of the amount of safety involved... we spend a lot more on our toys, videos, and bigger screen TVs.'' According to a study by the Western Australian Taxi Operators Association for the Victorian government, there are three security camera systems on the market which are used by the taxi industry in New South Wales.

Taxi drivers can rent the Cabcam 2000 for Australian $15.50 per week plus a Australian $120 installation fee.

And the Raywood, which sells for Austalian $2,142, can be installed for Australian $130.

Australia's Minister of Transport implemented a test run of the cameras, putting 700 units into their network.

They consulted with some 1,200 taxi drivers, operators, network personnel and passengers in group sessions, one-on-one interviews, surveys, and free-call telephone and fax facilities.

The association found that there was a 60 percent reduction in the number of reported assaults and/or robberies on taxi drivers from 1997 and 1998.

Many of the drivers said they "feel safer'' driving a taxi fitted with a camera and 31 percent stated they felt safer driving with a screen.

Further surveys show that 69 percent of drivers said they would feel safer following the installation of cameras. Also there has been a reduction in the number of incidents of unruly behaviour and vandalism in taxis after the cameras have been installed.

"The association concluded that the cameras enhance the feeling of safety for most drivers and passengers and that there is a deterrent effect in relation to some undesired behaviours,'' according to the report.

There is sufficient evidence from Western Australia and from enhanced systems in New South Wales that the camera systems would assist Police investigation and prosecution.

Mr. Adderley said: "Information has come to my attention more recently that suggests that there are some alternatives.

"... this information provided to me by Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Kim Young, who visited Australia recently...'' More recently they have been installing video cameras in the cars which allows the passengers to be filmed.

"And they found that this seems to offer a great deal more protection to the driver, and a decrease in drivers being assaulted,'' Mr. Adderley said.

"I'm just offering this as a suggestion that may need to be investigated locally.

"This is something that needs to be investigated now.

"But the question is would it work here and what would be the cost.

"Obviously it has to be discussed with the taxi industry to find out all the ramifications.

"...video cameras are not foreign to Bermuda. As you know they are beginning to use those on the street for traffic offences and also to regulate crime in known crime areas.

"Cab drivers can choose not to have the camera. He decides on his own how much his potential safety is worth.'' But Transport Minister Ewart Brown declined to comment on the video cameras.

However, he expressed the need for the Bermuda Industrial Union to prioritise the safety of the taxi drivers.

"At the moment, I expect anything regarding the drivers' safety to be a priority for the new Bermuda Industrial Union,'' Dr. Brown said.

"I think it's a great idea,'' he added in regard to general safety measures for taxi drivers. "I'm for anything that ensures the safety of the drivers.

"What the Government does not want to do is `micro-manage' the taxi industry and treat the owners and operators as if they were not mature business people.

"Their (taxi drivers) safety is their (BIU) primary responsibility and the Government stands ready to assist them.

"But first, they must continue to organise and increase their membership.'' Alaine Whitter, president of Bermuda Industrial Union Taxi Company, said about the video cameras: "On the face of it, it sounds like a good idea.

"There are other technologies that we are looking at now. We would like to explore those avenues first.

"I am not aware of this new technology. I would have to read up on it more before I could comment on it.

"The safety of the taxi drivers is something we definitely have to look at.

"We are looking into a new dispatch system in which the driver will have more immediate contact with the services that they are affiliated with as well as their headquarters.