Taxi bookings available through Uber app

Riders in Victoria have the option to select a taxi when booking a ride through the Uber app from November 29.

Uber Taxi bookings follow the same method as other Uber cars including an upfront price calculated in relation to the route which is paid through the app.

Uber said their trip support and safety features would also be available in Uber Taxi including GPS tracking and their Share My Ride option.

Victorian Taxi Association director Peter Valentine said while Uber Taxi could increase the income of drivers it undermines restrictions on working for long periods of time without a break.

Many Victorian taxi networks require drivers to take a minimum eight hour break each day and at least one full day off per week or a weekend per fortnight, Mr Valentine said.

Taxi drivers working for a network have dispatch or an electronic monitoring service that "generally kicks them out of the system after that period of time".

But a taxi driver, who starts at 6am, could work "close to 20 or 21 hours" per day across both services, he said.

The incentive to take adequate breaks is reduced, Mr Valentine said.

Increased fatigue for drivers tempted to work long hours for both Uber and a taxi network is a "serious concern", he said.

Mr Valentine said the shift length restrictions were "recommendation not regulations" and urged the government to "get serious" about policing exhaustion on the roads.

Uber said the introduction of their taxi booking service is part of a "global effort to create a better experience and more options" for riders as well as sharing earning opportunities with taxi drivers.

"The data is clear that in cities around the world, taxi drivers are earning more when Uber trips are made available to them," Uber said in a November 29 statement.

Uber Taxi is already operating in cities around the world including New York, Mexico City, San Francisco and Auckland.

Uber Australia and New Zealand managing director Dom Taylor said "working together, Uber and taxi provide consumers with more choice and flexibility while creating new earnings opportunities for taxi drivers across Victoria".

Changes to Uber vehicle requirements announced on October 31 have allowed taxi drivers onto the platform.

The rideshare company said it was exploring updating vehicle requirements in other states to continue the rollout of Uber Taxi "over the coming months".