Marijuana or cannabis addiction treatment can be found here.

I have several points in response to your suggestion of purpose built taxis.

firstly driver controlled door locking/unlocking has been mentioned in the industry before as a means to stop runners. Personally and I know a lot of other drivers agree with me without the barrier you mention we would rather they ran than stayed trapped inside the cab with us. Also even with the barrier they can still do damage to the vehicle, seats, seat belts, interior lighting etc …. Eventually costing the driver his excess.

secondly purpose built vehicles are considerably more expensive than the ford or holden vehicles we use now which is the main deterrent and there is the fact of no resale once they are deregistered which again makes them more expensive.

The list of possible changes/improvements that are possible in the taxi industry is also limited by the fact that most if not all taxis here in perth are bought through the auctions as ex government and not through the car yards or ordered direct from the factory. Anything you do has to be retrofit and cost again is a factor.

I’m glad to hear another cabbie not allowing drinking in the cab. I was amazed this past week to pick up 4 people headed to northbridge. They had between 2 and 6 drinks each with them as well as spirits etc and asked to be dropped outside 1 of the clubs on james st. Have they not heard about street drinking?? It was easily the biggest per person haul of alcohol I’ve seen in 11yrs driving. I wish the police would do a sting on it, it would make our job easier that’s for sure.

Smart call on going to the rank too. I had a funny situation 1 night when 2 guys told me they weren’t going to pay and planned to do a runner as soon as I stopped. They couldn’t figure out why I laughed fit to burst and told them “You may think your not paying but your very mistaken”. Their destination was the casino. I pulled over at the rank, got out and called to a group of rather large taxi drivers “Hey guys I’ve got 2 blokes here that claim they aren’t paying.” The drivers came over, surrounded the cab and my passengers suddenly found their money and apologising profusely went on their way.

comment edited as a precaution, no offence mate :-)

As for the stats I haven’t seen anything but I’m sure they must be available somewhere as you say.

Also regarding safety screens I spoke to a driver last night who is totally against them as he says they prevent a driver from exiting the vehicle through the passengers side doors in the event of an accident (rollover etc) or to get away from a person trying to get to the driver through the door or window.

On a positive note my owner is replacing the car in the next few weeks and after talking to him last night he is going to investigate having the central locking altered on the new car so the drivers door can remain locked while passengers enter/exit the taxi through the other 3 doors.

Something I have wanted for as long as I’ve driven taxis. It should be mandatory on all cabs in my opinion.

My mum has a friend who was driving cabs up until she was 7 months pregnant. Her cab was hijacked and she was taken up to the Dandenongs, stabbed in the tummy, locked in the boot and the cab set fire to.. she delivered her baby in the boot of the cab – that was over 20 years ago and she and the child are fine – but far out.. what an ordeal – what a risk..

Again my friend, stay safe
x

That’s the trouble though it always takes a death or 3 before those in power take action. Here in Perth shields as we call them were offered to us many years ago and we rejected them. In Sydney according to Sydney cabbie/blogger Adrian some of the cabs he drives have shields but no camera the others have cameras but no shields. Seems to me like they are playing games with drivers lives. The shields offer only partial coverage as well from what I have been told. An offender can still get their arm around the front of the shield between the shield and the windscreen.

The best way to describe it is they are L shaped and fit around the drivers chair as opposed to the classic yellow New York cab with the front-rear divider.

Jimmy I have done extensive searching since reading your comment it is indeed as you say. The last story I can find anywhere online is when they found Mr Woodger’s body several days ago. It is truly appalling that nothing has been mentioned anywhere at all about his funeral or the protest that I assume happened as planned today although being on the other side of the country and with no news coverage I have no way of knowing.

It seems that a Cabbie dies in the line of duty is just a statistic.
If a police officer or a fireman dies in the line of duty its just about a state funeral.

We all know what we are worth people, jack all.

To quote from a letter received from The Hon. John Watkins MP., Minister for transport received June 14th 2007.

“Taxis are a vital link in our transport system. All sections of the community rely on taxis–businesses, the elderly and people with disabilities. The Government is committed to working with taxi industry stakeholders to ensure a stable future for the taxi industry right accross New South Wales.”

John Watkins MP.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Watkins was not even available for comment when this grim and dastardly event revealed itself.

Note also the words “industry stakeholders” the plate owners and opperators. To hell with the Joe Blow bailee taxi driver. He or she is an expendible comodity and easily replaced.

Mountains Jimmy