Taxi Driver Online

Taxi Firm Aims To Keep Women Safe

Wednesday 7th October 2009

A taxi firm will offer Swindon women the chance to feel safer at night by improving the way it picks up customers.

SN1 Radio Cars Limited, based in the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, will send its customers individual pin number cards that match up with a woman’s name.

The firm said the move will alleviate the problem of women getting into the wrong cab or illegal taxis and encountering problems later in their journey.

The idea was generated following the Adver’s front page on Saturday, which revealed police believed a taxi driver sexually assaulted at least two women in or around the town centre.

One man is currently on remand having been charged with a sexual offence — but police have refused to reveal further details due to the sensitive nature of the investigation.

SN1, based at BSS House, said it collects up to 3,000 women a month in Swindon.

Manager Derek Newson said he thought the new move would eradicate the problem of drivers picking up the wrong fare.

The company plans to introduce the new scheme within the next seven days.

“This has been in the forefront of our minds for a while,” said Derek.

“But in light of recent assaults and attacks in Swindon we want to give these girls confidence they are getting into the right car.”

Last night Derek explained new customers will receive a newsletter, including a membership card with a pin number on it in the post.

SN1 drivers will ask to see the card before they allow customers to enter the vehicle.

Derek said: “Every Friday and Saturday night we are finding our drivers are picking up the wrong girls.

“Say the taxi was booked under the name ‘Sarah’. Then a girl might go up to the driver with the same name and ask if it’s for her and get in, when there could be four Sarahs waiting at the same place.

“People ask us why we don’t ask for surnames as well, but you can imagine late at night when these girls have had a lot to drink it’s hard enough to get their first name out of them.”

SN1 was created two-and-a-half years ago by Derek’s son Martin.

It has 110 drivers covering the Swindon and surrounding areas.

To find out more about the scheme, please call SN1 on 01793 523523.

Source; SwindonAdvertiser.co.uk

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I don't think drivers are that stupid that they pick up the wrong fares I think they just don't have the patience to wait for the right fare. Also the public can be very difficult to deal with when it comes to taxis they seem to think that we should wait around until they are ready to get into the taxi even tho they may have rang it 10mins previously.

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