Taxi passengers fear for their lives

AFTER another taxi accident on Columbine Avenue, Mondeor, on Tuesday at about 17:45, many passengers who use taxis say they fear for their lives.

“I’m scared every time I ride in a taxi. Many are definitely not roadworthy and are falling to pieces inside and out,” said a passenger who wishes to remain anonymous.

“I travel every day from Soweto to Rosettenville, to go to work, and most of the taxis are in a shocking state. Taxi fares are expensive and we still have to go in taxis which look like they are about to fall apart. Some tyres have no tread on them at all. Most of us don’t have any other choice than to use the badly maintained taxis, there’s no other way to get to and from work,” said a man who uses taxis six days a week.

The accident on Tuesday evening left a woman driver traumatised after she saw the taxi speeding up behind her. “I could see him coming up too fast behind me and I swerved out of the way. He hit my side mirror and tyre, and I ended up sideways across the road,” she said.

Michelle Pelser from Mondeor Policing Community Forum was at the scene. “The driver phoned the owner of the taxi and he sent his friend out. He told us the taxi is in the process of being revamped. It didn’t have any licence disk and there was no current permit. Totally unroadworthy!” she said.

“The 60kmh speed limit is not adhered to and Columbine Avenue is like a race track. This road needs speed humps or something to slow down the drivers. Speed humps should not be depicted by the type of road it is but by how many people have been killed. What about the same kind of thing on Swartkoppies, near to the entrance to Rietvlei Zoo Farm? Surely this could be considered and would help,” said a woman who regularly uses Columbine Avenue.

What are you feelings on unroadworthy taxis on the roads? Do you have to travel in taxis and how do you feel about badly maintained vehicles? Email: juliem@caxton.co.za or visit our website www.comarochronicle.co.za to comment.