The majority of the public rely on taxis, buses and trains to get to work and other destinations.
Many public members still use taxis because they are faster and don’t have specific departure and arrival times.
But the taxis we board everyday, are they really safe for us commuters?
A few weeks ago I took a taxi and the ride just sparked so many questions.
Firstly, the driver was rude to the passengers and he played the radio so loud we couldn’t hear ourselves think.
He knew very well people would want to alert him as to where they want to stop, but he continued playing the radio loud.
His driving was so reckless everyone inside the taxi was holding on to the seats for dear life.
When I eventually got off the taxi, I was shaking in disbelief that I was still alive and felt sorry for the passengers who still had to endure time in that taxi.
I’m pretty sure the taxi owner would freak if he knew the driver was driving in that manner.
Taxi owners should find a way to monitor the way the drivers drive when they have passengers on board.
When we jump into public transportation we want to be taken to our destination as safely as possible.
Negligence to passengers should not be taken lightly because, in the end, it is the passengers that suffer.
Taxi maintenance should also be a priority to taxi owners.
I cannot imagine how unsafe it is to be inside a taxi that has no windscreen wipers and it is raining.
Such irresponsible behaviour should not be tolerated on the roads at all.
As commuters we need to have a voice. There should be a toll-free number we can call when we experience problems with drivers.
Many people have died on our roads because of silly mistakes made by drivers and many more will die if we continue to turn a blind eye.
We understand the pressure that comes with meeting a daily target as a taxi driver, but no amount of money can measure to the lives they carry inside their taxis.
Taxis are an important service in our community and we put our lives in the hands of the drivers when we make use of them.
