Kind cabbies are our hope to revive taxi industry
KUALA Lumpur taxi fares have been listed as the eighth cheapest in the world, according to a taxi price index survey of taxi operators in 80 of the most visited cities in the world.
Many KL taxi users feel that the survey did not reflect the true picture of taxi drivers. Although the taxi industry has set standard taxi fares and meters in taxis, some taxi drivers do not comply with the rules.
And without enforcement and surveillance, taxi drivers overcharge passengers by not using meters.
Two years ago, according to a British website, KL taxi drivers were rated as the world’s worst, ahead of cabbies in Rome and Paris.
This came as no surprise to taxi users who have been overcharged by arrogant and rude drivers.
There have been cases where taxi drivers do not use the meters, and even if they do, they take passengers on longer routes.
Little has changed over the years. Passengers find themselves at the mercy of drivers, who have no qualms overcharging passengers.
When they try to haggle over fares, they are given a mouthful by rude and abusive cabbies.
Some taxi drivers pick foreigners over locals so they can overcharge the former.
Despite a few bad apples, we have also heard of honest and kind taxi drivers, who returned valuables left by passengers in their taxis, and went the extra mile to help passengers get to their destinations.
They are our hope to revive the industry, and may be then we can live up to the findings of the survey.