Taxi Driver Online

Taxi targeted as worries are raised about increased attacks on drivers

https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2018 ... n-drivers/

THE number of attacks on taxi drivers is ‘escalating’, the President of the Jersey Taxi Drivers’ Association has said.

As the number of people using taxis increases at this time of year, Steve Marsh said that 2018 had seen cases of physical assault against drivers coming before Jersey’s courts.

‘This is a very worrying time, as these incidents seem to be escalating,’ he said. ‘Taxi drivers are just trying to do their job and serve the public. Imagine if this kind of thing were to happen to States employees who are performing a public service.

‘I think the authorities are doing all they can but I would like to remind members of the public that we are approaching one of the busiest times of year, when people use taxi services a lot, and it is important that our drivers feel they are safe and are treated with respect.

‘The vast majority of people are okay but I would just like to make a general reminder that our drivers are simply doing their job and providing the public with a service.’

Meanwhile, a taxi driver had his car ‘sabotaged’ with a pool ball at the Airport car park yesterday morning while he waited in the terminal building for a client to arrive.


Image: Jersey Evening Post/John Guegan

Sommerville Telfer (64) said that he realised something was wrong the moment he began driving because there was a ‘terrible noise’ coming from the back wheel of his Toyota Prius. When he stopped and got out of the car to investigate, he saw that a pool ball had been wedged behind his rear left hub cap, where the vehicle’s brakes are.

‘It could be someone who has a grievance against me personally but I can’t see that that’s the case,’ he said. ‘I know taxi drivers aren’t always the most popular people but if this was some kind of practical joke, it wasn’t funny. It was dangerous and could have caused a lot of damage. Luckily, I had only driven a couple of yards before I heard the noise and stopped, so no serious damage was done. But I did have a client on board at the time.’

Mr Telfer, who has been a taxi driver in Jersey for 20 years and currently works for Luxicabs, reported the incident to the States police who, he says, told him they would be checking CCTV footage to try to identify the person responsible.

Mr Telfer added that this was the first time he had been the victim of what he referred to as ‘sabotage’.