The Taxi Federation suspects the Government won't appreciate the need for security cameras in cabs until there's another serious attack.
Last summer a driver was fatally stabbed while on the job in Christchurch, and another in Taranaki suffered life-threatening injuries from being beaten and locked in the boot of his cab.
The Government has cited cost as the main reason why taxi companies won't be forced to run security cameras in their cabs.
But Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish says the decision is short-sighted and will come back to haunt Transport Minister, Steven Joyce.
He says although some companies are volunteering to retro-fit their taxis with the cameras, it is sad to have to use driver attacks as the catalyst for change.
