PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Taxi Camera Testing

The NZTA, in conjunction with Bentech Limited, have established a set of rules and requirements for Taxi Camera Systems to be used in taxis throughout New Zealand. A reliable and robust process has been set up to ensure the camera systems entering the market are not only suitable for the protection of drivers within the New Zealand taxi industry, but also offer security and safety for the traveling public.

Bentech Lab is a Transport Agency approved laboratory for the independent testing of taxi camera security systems according to the Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing 2007 as amended by the Operator Licensing Amendment (no 2) 2010. We offer a timely testing process and valuable feedback to help get camera systems to market as fast as possible.

What You Must Do to Get Tested

Before we can proceed with the testing process, you must supply us with the following:

The taxi camera system, components and cables to run the equipment from a 12V supply
Computer software (if required), along with information required to access the software
All manuals and installation instructions (hard copy or digital form)
Digital copies of test images taken during the Image Capture Exercise installed in the media of the system
Documentation showing the system has EMC compliance
Payment of the testing fee. This is a standard fee required for the testing process and is payable prior to testing
The filled out ‘Application to Test’ form. You can download the form here

Testing will not commence until all the required information is supplied. Please contact us if you have any queries.

The Testing Process

The testing typically takes 8 – 14 days, but the process can be delayed if we have not been supplied with sufficient information and files. If a system does not pass all aspects of the test, we often work with the supplier and in many cases offer advice/help to bring the system to compliance.

In the event the system requires a retest, a retest fee will apply. Only the aspects that the system failed on are required to be retested.

Test Variations

For larger taxis such as vans, a taxi camera security system with multiple cameras may be required in order to record all passengers. Therefore, a system falls into one of two classes; i) Single Camera System and ii) Multiple Camera System. A system is approved for the number of cameras it was tested with.

If your system supports multiple cameras, ensure you supply the maximum number of cameras for testing. If your system is only tested with a single camera, you may have to get it re-tested before you can use it in a vehicle that requires more than one camera.

Tips For Suppliers

To ensure your system passes the testing process and to avoid retesting fees, you can follow the guidelines below:

Ensure your camera security system is fully working before sending it to us
Verify that all components (Camera, DVR etc.) have the make, model, and a unique serial number permanently marked on them
Ensure you have performed the Image Capture Exercise and that the files are loaded onto the system that you supply us. Make sure the images meet all the requirements here
Check the required stamps are on the images and that they do not obscure any of the passengers faces
Ensure all paperwork and manufacturer’s instructions are written in clear English and are easy to understand. We do not translate or guess when reading documentation, so ensure they are clearly readable
Check that your SDoC shows EMC compliance
Make sure the storage media is large enough to store 168 hours worth of images with at least 1 image per second and a suitable quality

Tip: 168 hours works out to be at least 604,800 images. If you know the bit rate of the recording (in kb/s) you can work out the space required. If other information is stored on the same media, you must allow for this too.
Example (Bit rate of 440kb/s, 2 cameras): Required = 55kBb/s x 604800 x 2 = 63.5 GB

Read through the NZTA Guidelines here and make sure that your system meets all the requirements