Cab Drivers Keep Watch
Passengers who have been frequent rule breakers in taxis are outsmarting taxi operators who have been providing transport service around the greater Suva area.
The ongoing issue has prompted drivers of City Cabs and Hire to be more vigilant when picking up passengers.
Taxi driver Intaz Ali said some passengers direct the taxi drivers’ routes that would avoid the nearest Police station or post. “Sometimes when we get a call to pick up passengers along the way, the caller would say it would only be a female passenger then upon reaching the destination there were two to three more male passengers waiting too. At times it would be alright, but other times we would get mugged and robbed,” Mr Ali said.
With 60 cars operating under City Cabs and Hire, Mr Ali said their drivers rely on each other to notify and give a signal when in danger.
“We know the code so when one of the drivers is in danger, we quickly notify each other so that we can get to the location as soon as possible,” he said.
Located along City Apartments in Suva, City Cabs and Hire has also noted that passengers would opt to board into taxis that have older drivers.
Meanwhile, the long Christmas week has been a slight boost to taxi drivers since COVID-19 disrupted the transportation business.
“Although it was not as much as we would get in previous years, it was still enough because we understand that we are not the only ones affected.
“Everyone else has been in some way affected too. Christmas week, business picked up slowly as people moved around a lot,” he said.
Mr Ali hopes that the new 2021 would also bring new changes to the taxi business.