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Assault
Assault may include physical violence, verbal threats or unwanted sexual contact or attention. Experiencing assault can have severe consequences.
Overview
Assault may include physical violence, verbal threats or unwanted sexual contact or attention. Experiencing assault can have severe consequences.
As an on-demand booking service (ODBS), you have a duty of care to your drivers, passengers and the public.
It is important to put procedures in place to:
- reduce or limit the risk of assault occurring;
- enable the reporting of assault by passengers and drivers; and
- report serious incidents to WA Police and the Department of Transport (DoT).
How to report serious incidents to DoT
Notifiable occurrence reports
Under the Transport (Road Passenger Services) Act 2018, incidents of a serious nature that involve, or have the potential to result in injury, violence or abuse of a person are called “notifiable occurrences”.
ODBSs and drivers are required to report notifiable occurrences as soon as practicable to the Department of Transport (DoT) via DoTDirect.
Visit Notifiable occurrence reporting for more information.
Alleged driver conduct reports
ODBSs also have a responsibility to submit “alleged driver conduct reports” to DoT.
These are reports of allegations that a driver of an on-demand passenger transport vehicle was engaged in conduct that would affect their suitability to drive in the on-demand transport industry.
Alleged driver conduct reports must be submitted via DoTDirect within 48 hours of ODBSs becoming aware of the behaviour.
Visit Alleged driver conduct reporting for more information.
Things to consider when creating procedures to minimise this hazard
- Do I have procedures for drivers and passengers to report safety incidents, and have these procedures been communicated?
- Do I provide passengers with access to safety resources during their trip (for example, through your booking app or on your website)?
- Do the vehicles I dispatch work to have appropriate safety equipment installed (like physical barriers to separate drivers and passengers)?
- Do my taxi vehicles have compliant camera surveillance units (CSUs) installed, and do all CSUs work?
- Have I considered installing CSUs in my charter vehicles?
- Have I developed and conducted driver safety training?
