There would be fewer vehicles on the roads and probably fewer accidents too.
There would be less vehicle pollution and fewer incidents of road rage. However, unemployment would be higher, many children would not be able to get to school, and buses and trains would become overloaded.
The informal taxi business is a key element to Joburg’s success and taxi drivers do not get enough credit for their contribution to the economy. Yes, there are many taxi drivers that disobey the rules of the road and are accidents waiting to happen, but there are also drivers who uphold the law and make sure employees get to work on time. To these drivers, I would like to say thank you.
To the drivers who are irresponsible and to the taxi owners that do not care about their vehicles’ roadworthiness, please reconsider your actions. Mothers and fathers put their child’s lives in your hands on a daily basis, and employees trust you to get them to work safely and on time. Having an overloaded taxi or one that is not
roadworthy puts precious lives at risk every day.
Taxi drivers forget that overloading their vehicles with passengers or not having a valid licence could lead to murder or manslaughter changes against them should the vehicle be involved in a fatal accident.
To other road users I urge you to be patient when next you are stuck behind a taxi. These drivers are simply trying to make a living and without them, our economy would be worse off.
