Taxi Driver Online

I thought I would start a separate thread on the subject of assaults upon taxi and ph drivers and their vehicles, rather than go off on a tangent with the chef and the ph driver, and the £6 fare for 900 yards in Lincoln.

I have been a cab driver in Lincoln for almost a quarter of a century, since 1992 I have owned a Black Cab. In all that time, I have rarely had problem passengers, have never been the victim of criminal damage to my vehicle. Yet, other owner drivers I know have suffered difficulties with passengers, and on several occaisions have been the victims of criminal damage to their vehicle.

So, have I been lucky, have others been unlucky? I don't think luck comes into it. Over the last few years, it hasn't gone unnoticed (by me) that the same drivers, have had problems repeatedly, whilst others have none. So why should this be?

Whenever I hear on a Monday morning that a black cab driver had been in a spot of bother over the weekend I could bet on it being one of three drivers involved. And usually, it is.

Now I would like to make it clear that I do not condone attacks upon drivers under any circumstances.

BUT, each of the drivers who suffer a disproportionate amount of "problem passengers" tend to bring these problems upon themselves, by attitude, habitual overcharging, and indifference to the terms and conditions of licence. (overloading, doubling up and so on) they bring it upon themselves. (in my opinion).

I would repeat that I do not under any circumstances condone criminal action by passengers. But do certain drivers provoke it?

Discuss.

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Former taxi driver

Some drivers haven't got the slightest clue how to deal with punters when they are sober, let alone pi**ed. So they often end up in trouble.

I also think many customers don't like drivers that don't share the same skin, and that often leads to trouble.

There is an art of diffusing trouble, but it's an art that takes many years of experience.

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IDFIMH

Jimbo, it's the same with PH drivers in Lincoln. Like yourself I can bet on it being one of three drivers involved.

99% of the time I see it as being down to driver attitude, keeping calm and not being argumentative.

As for the other 1%, I believe there is an element of luck involved. No matter how your people skills are and calm down to earth personality is, your just not going to defuse that type of situation. This is sadly today's society, Racism being an example from Sussex.