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Taxi and livery drivers are 60 times more
likely to be murdered while attempting to make
a living than workers in any other field.
Because they face a number of risks - working
alone, working with the public, working at
night, working in high crime areas, and working
with cash - they are at very high risk for
violence on the
job.
Because 90% of our taxi drivers work under an
unusual arrangement - that of "independent
contractor", it is very difficult to obtain
statistics on the incidents of workplace
violence that do not result in death. When I
started driving a cab, I was told that the job
would be dangerous and assaults were to be
expected. It's just part of the job. There was
no safety training, no safety equipment or
procedures, and no method of reporting
assaults, so cabdrivers will continue to be
assaulted daily.
When I started driving a cab, I was told that
the job would be dangerous and assaults were to
be expected. It's just part of the job. There
was no safety training, no safety equipment or
procedures, and no method of reporting
assaults. I had a knife pulled on me, a fare
tried to rob me, and a couple of times I got
into a scuffle with a passenger. None of these
incidents were reported. After all, it's just
part of the job and I did not want to be
considered incompetent or unable to handle
it.
Assaulting a cabdriver carries little risk to
the assailant. First, there is a very good
chance it won't be reported to the police, and
if it is reported, there's very little chance
of the perpetrator getting caught and if he is
caught and disputes the allegation, there in a
very good chance the cab driver won't be
believed. I talked to a driver in Kansas City
who said that he no longer reports any assaults
or even robberies. The first time he was
assaulted and robbed, he called the police. He
was told to stay right where he was and wait
for an officer. He did. When the officer got
there, he saw that the cab was parked in a "no
parking" zone. So the driver was arrested and
the cab was towed away. The driver had just
been beaten and robbed, but no report was taken
on that. By far the most frequent complaint I
got from drivers who answered my survey was
lack of concern from the police
department.
Cab drivers are in a position to be of great
assistance to the police. They are out on the
streets 24 hours a day. They know what goes on
out there. But rather than developing a working
relationship with the cabdrivers, the police
often treat them like common criminals. Cab
drivers are a vital part of the transportation
system in many cities and it wouldn't hurt to
show them a little respect. After all, they
help keep the economy going by providing
on-call transportation to those in need of it,
they act as ambassadors to the city for out of
town visitors, and they save lives by hauling
home drunks who should not be on the roads.
They are out there everyday putting their lives
on the line every time they allow a stranger
into their vehicle, yet they are treated with
disrespect and disdain.
In many cities, not only is there no safety
equipment in cabs, and no safety training
provided, but cabdrivers are not permitted to
carry even pepper spray for their own
protection. Some cities even have ordinances
requiring the cab driver to pick up anyone who
wants a cab regardless of any perception of
danger, thus preventing the driver from using
even his own common sense to protect himself
from harm. And some states have specifically
exempted cab drivers from workers' compensation
coverage. That, with cabdrivers being at the
highest risk for workplace violence! How much
clearer can it be made that cabdrivers are
thought to be
expendable?
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