LETTER in IOW county pressMay I respond to your report on the attack on Newport taxi drivers (CP, 27-05-17).
I was a taxi driver for more than 45 years on the Island and I don't think people realise the number of assaults and verbal abuse that taxi drivers suffer for just doing their job.
Over a 20-year period up to two years ago there were 65, yes, 65 murders of taxi drivers in this country (these figures were obtained from the National Private Hire Association) and do not include violent assaults or stabbings for these are just too numerous and unfortunately do not get the back up from the police or local authority.
Most taxi drivers are self-employed and just cannot afford time and money to pursue compensation claims, the local authority licensing department live in their own little cocooned world, and if they were confronted with some of the issues faced by drivers on a daily basis they would go for compensation claims as they have the backing of a powerful union or the council.
The response to this incident by the council are two attention notices on South Street taxi ranks stating no bad or disrespectful behaviour, damage to vehicles or fouling of vehicles etc, will be tolerated.
Does the council or licensing department honestly believe a person who is under the influence of drink or drugs is going to read a notice attached up a pole six or seven feet high and take any notice of it?
The council also create problems by encouraging taxi customers to approach any taxi for hire on the rank.
All over the world and in some countries like Spain there are notices stating 'first taxi on, first taxi off'; this is rank etiquette. All cabs have meters which are sealed and the fare imposed by the local council.
It would be nice if taxi drivers got the backing of the local authority and the police if and when incidents arise.
What other profession in this country has had 65 murders? There isn't one. These figures are just swept under the carpet.
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