Taxi Driver Online

Who'd take a taxi?


By Nigel Thornton

Tis the season to be merry. And, therefore, tis also the season to take a taxi. But in Peterborough it seems a taxi, whether you're a driver or a passenger, is not a very safe place to be.

There have been several shocking incidents of drivers being beaten and stabbed. The latest terrible incident left a 41-year-old cabbie fighting for his life after a brutal attack in Bretton on Tuesday afternoon.

Taxi drivers have expressed their frustration at the level of protection they receive and some have even turned vigilante.

A few drivers have been guilty of violence, as they dish out their own rough justice.

So much so that Peterborough Crown Court judge Nicholas Coleman in jailing a city cabbie for 18 months said: "There is a particular problem in this city of taxi drivers seeking to impose their own method of justice where they see people misbehaving.''

When a Crown Court judge deems an issue serious enough to make a special point you can pretty certain the problem is real.

However, the response from the police and the city council, who license the drivers, has been unsatisfactory.

In the wake of Judge Coleman's comments there was calls for training and CCTV in cabs (the police) and warnings that offenders will lose their licence if found guilty of such wrongdoings (the council).

All well and good, and fair comment, but what actually is going to be done?

The authorities can talk about "isolated incidents'' and "a minority'' until they are blue in the face, but there is a wider issue to be addressed here – the public needs to be reassured that it is safe to use the cabs in this city.

In turn, the cabbies need to know they will be protected as they go about their lawful business.

The Christmas party season is just about to get into full swing and it will be the busiest time of the year for the taxi business.

There is no room for complacency.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Where I live I receive the local news for that area, BBC Look East.

I've yet to see a Taxi involved in any of the above, Peterborough only allows P.B Taxi's to operate as such.

All the News items have shown saloon cars.