The Truth About Taxicabs: Are You Really Safe?
With gas prices rising and the cost of owning and driving a car being more than some people can afford, you may be like millions of other people who need to rely on public transportation to get to and from your daily errands. While most modes of public transportation are safe and reliable, you should still be aware that a small risk always exists whenever you allow someone else to drive you to where you need to go.
When you are in the back of a taxi, it can be all too easy to trust the driver to handle the vehicle safely. Rather than glibly assume that you will get to and from your destination safely, you should be aware of the risks that could arise when you ride in a taxi.
Car Accidents
A taxi is indeed nothing more than a sedan that is used to ferry passengers around town. It has the same design and structure as any other car on the road. As such, it is a possibility that the taxi could become involved in an accident that could leave you and the driver injured. If you have questions regarding an accident, sites like www.dallascaraccidentlawyers.net, can get you answers regarding these types of incidents.
In fact, a taxi driver in Dallas recently was killed in a car accident after the taxi he was driving overturned on a busy highway. He was the lone occupant in the taxi at the time of the accident. Even so, this event shows that taxi drivers are susceptible to getting into accidents that could jeopardize your own safety if you are a passenger during a crash.
Assaults and Muggings
Your driver cannot guarantee your personal safety when you are hailing and boarding a taxi. While the driver may carry a gun for his or her own protection, that driver often is prohibited by his or her employer from using it to protect you. You are left to your own devices when it comes to getting in and out of taxis safely.
The media continues to report on stories involving taxi passengers being assaulted and mugged by passengers with whom they are sharing a ride or people who await people to get out of taxis so they can rob these unsuspecting individuals. When you use a taxi, you must be aware of this risk and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.
Disruption of Services
When you ride a taxi, there also is no guarantee that you are going to get to and from your errands on time. Taxis are prone to the same mechanical breakdowns as any other car on the road. When you are riding in a tax that breaks down, the taxi company may not have another cab in the area that can pick you up and take you to where you need to go. You may be left stranded on the road or at a gas station.
When you take a taxi, you should have an idea of how you can get another ride, or at least how to find the nearest bus stop. This back up plan could save you from the dangers of being stranded without any way to get home.
While taxis are viewed as reliable sources of public transportation, you could still be at risk when you ride in one of these vehicles. You can protect yourself by knowing about the most common safety risks when riding in a taxi.
Having had her own incident of a drunk taxi cab driver, prompts Nadine Swayne to bring this issue to light. As a passenger, your rights are important and you can find more information online, at sites such as www.dallascaraccidentlawyers.net, as to what your next step should be if involved in a taxi cab accident.
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nanpalmero/3397028016
