Friday March 15, 2013

Cabbies urge commuters to ride call taxis for better safety

By JASON YU

newsdesk@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Paying an extra RM2 to call for a taxi by phone rather than flagging one could ensure your safety that is the advice of an experienced taxi driver to passengers, especially women.

The 62-year-old taxi driver who only wanted to be known as Abdul Ghani said phoning for a taxi was much safer as the identity of the driver who responded to the call would have been logged in by the call centre.

Thus, he said the possibility of the driver misbehaving was less.

“Spending that extra RM2 can actually save you from falling victim to a bogus taxi driver,” he said.

KL Sentral Taxi Drivers Association president Badrol Hisham Mohd Noor said that the actions of rogue taxi drivers have tarnished the name of all taxi drivers.

“I do not believe that these men are taxi drivers. They are just robbers and rapists,” he said.

He also advised passengers to always inspect whether the driver had a taxi licence and not to get into one if it was not displayed.

Project manager Jemima David from Semenyih, a regular taxi user, also urged passengers to always stay alert for suspicious drivers.

“It is important for passengers to always take note of the driver's face, as well as their taxi licence.

“If they know that you can recognise them, it is harder for them to act against you,” she said.

Police have also urged the public to be more vigilant given the spate of taxi robberies in Kuala Lumpur.

While it is almost impossible to immediately ascertain whether a taxi driver is genuine, Federal CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said the public should always be alert.

“Be more vigilant when you board taxis. Take note of the vehicle registration number as well as the drivers' permits,” he said.

News

Friday March 15, 2013

Cabbies urge commuters to ride call taxis for better safety

By JASON YU