Taxi Cab safety

In the recent wake of escalating violence against cab drivers, in almost all over the world it has become necessary to formulate certain strict, but necessary guidelines to ensure their safety. Since cab-drivers are so prone to encounter violence, be it physical or verbal, robbery and theft in the course of their duty, it is the responsibility of the company, or the overseeing authorities to provide them suitable training to be able to handle certain undesired situations properly.

There are certain simple guidelines which taxi and cab drivers could follow, which would minimize chances of such incidents taking place. Some of them are –

• It is extremely important to be a good judge of human nature and behavior. As a cab driver is likely to come in contact with a large number of people, it is important that the cabbie is able to judge the mood of his customers and act accordingly. Most of the people are average, nice people without any ill intentions, but anyone can have a bad day. It is most unwise to aggravate the customer’s bad mood by aggressively arguing with him regarding the fare, or any other matter; as such a situation can lead to violence. As such, the cab driver must be conversant with “body language” and its implications, and should never let their guard down.
• Following certain basic standard safety procedures can work wonders. For example, in case the cabs are being overseen by some dispatcher, it is essential to keep the dispatcher informed about the cab’s next destination.
• Whenever a passenger provides the destination, the cab driver should immediately radio the destination to the dispatcher. This also alerts the passenger to the fact that the whereabouts of the cab is known to others. Cab drivers should be suspicious of passengers who provide vague destinations.
• It is advisable not to wear expensive accessories which may attract undue attention. If a passenger offers a large denomination bill, take him to get it changed at a nearby shop. Do not alert him to the fact that you have sufficient money to change it. Most criminals will not rob you if they are convinced that you do not have enough cash on you.
• The cab driver should have a good knowledge of the region. Most altercations are caused due to wrong routes or intentional longer routes taken by cabbies. Similarly, refuse to enter narrow alleys or blind ends, as the chances of theft and robbery are increased much more there. During night hours, cab drivers should be extra vigilant, as most criminals prefer the dark.
• Last but not the least, in case of any such incident, it is necessary to maintain a calm disposition without panicking. Trying to resist a robbery will only result in physical injury, which may be fatal. The best option is to stall, as time is on you side, not on the criminal’s. if you are calm, chances are you will escape the situation without any physical harm.