Learn how to deal with irate people

ON Aug 12 in Puchong, an argument broke out after a GrabCar driver insisted on following the Waze app instead of the route requested by the 17yearold female passenger.

She cancelled the trip, got out of the car and slammed the door. The infuriated driver threw a punch at her face and broke her nose.

On Sept 25, the 29yearold driver was fined RM3,500 or three months in jail. He paid the fine.

The driver got off lightly, considering that he was charged under Section 335 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum four years imprisonment or a fine of up to RM4,000 or both on conviction.

The case should serve as a lesson for all taxi and ehailing drivers who are bound to meet all kinds of passengers. In any event, drivers should never get physical with any passenger, including those who insist on paying less, or not at all, at the end of the trip.

Malaysians ought to take cognisance of the National Health Morbidity Survey 2015 by the Health Ministry, which revealed that 4.2 million out of 14.4 million Malaysians aged 16 (over 34%) and above suffer from mental health problems.

The prevalence in Kuala Lumpur was higher at 40%, and that was for ordinary folk. It would be no surprise if the percentage was much higher for taxi drivers given that many refuse to use the meter and are aggressive towards passen gers, ehailing drivers and enforcement authorities.

Sadly, an increasing number of ehailing drivers seem to be following the path of rogue taxi drivers by being aggressive.

On Sept 26, a 38yearold GrabCar driver was arrested for threatening Kuala Lumpur City Hall enforcement officers and challenging them to a fight. The altercation was captured in a video clip that has gone viral on social media.

Just as taxi and ehailing drivers should be trained to handle difficult and challenging situations, so should traffic enforcement officers.