Taking a taxi can be a stressful and taxing experience.
At one time or another, a taxi passenger probably had an encounter with an abusive driver. Reports and horror stories of such incidents when riding a taxi have been reported to the Land Transportation Franchise and Review Board but to no avail. These incidents are a one-on-one encounter between passenger and driver. There are no witnesses and when reported to the police it becomes a case of he says she says.
I have experienced such a taxing time with abusive drivers. Did I bring this on myself? I don’t think so. Once I get into a taxi I usually greet them a good morning or afternoon to set the tone for a pleasant journey. Sometimes the driver responds to your greeting with a “good morning too, sir.” But often there is no response which signals this is going to be one stressful journey. True enough, this I know as an experienced commuter who only stopped driving because of those loose madmen on motorcycles on the road.
When you hail a cab and the driver asks where you’re going and then demands an extra P100 for what he says is a traffic congested route, do not get on. This is a tell-tale sign he’s going to take you for a ride you are not going to enjoy.
I would rate myself considerate and in fact generous, usually giving a P20 tip even for short distances and P50 for longer trips. But I won’t allow myself to be a victim of downright extortion.
Let me say that there some drivers who are courteous and in fact nice to talk when traffic is at standstill which is usual in this gridlocked metropolis. Many motorists complain about the lack of parking spaces in the city. But most streets, like the oft-used Edsa, including Roxas Boulevard and Osmena Highway have become virtual parking lots during rush and peak hours.
It is then comforting news that the Land Transportation Franchise and Review Board is going to impose stiffer penalties for abusive drivers. Under the new LTFRB rule, abusive public utility drivers will be subject to heftier fines.
Some taxi drivers do not just subject their passengers to verbal abuse. We have read police reports of female passengers being robbed and raped by taxi drivers. A corresponding case of criminal negligence should be imposed for taxi operators and owners to make them also accountable for not vetting the drivers they hire. A taxi driver himself told me that because of the big demand for drivers, some of them are hired without the required National Bureau of Investigation clearance.
Oh, my God ! It isn’t just criminals loose in the streets. Some of them are behind the steering wheel!
This piece isn’t to malign and portray taxi drivers as all abusive and criminals. But it simply warns passengers to be wary and careful when getting a cab. If a you’re a female, never ride in the front passenger seat. A woman is more vulnerable when she takes the seat beside the driver. This is particularly true when she’s wearing shorts or mini skirt. That’s a tempting invitation to acts of lasciviousness. The back seat is a better defensive position in case you see the driver keeps looking at you from his rear-view mirror and you sense he could be up to something.
To be fair, there are instances that show some good taxi drivers like the one who returned a bag containing cash and an expensive cell phone a passenger left in the back seat. May their tribe increase.
One also has to understand the difficulties taxi drivers undergo in their daily job behind the wheel. Aside from the horrendous metro traffic that reduces their income, they have to deal with the high boundary system of owners and taxi operators not to mention the increase in the price of gasoline and diesel fuel. Even if taxi drivers would like to opt for another job or profession, they can’t because of the scarcity of jobs in the market.
But that’s no reason to take it out on your passengers who could be also dealing with life’s adversities but coping with it.