A new taxi study in Edinburgh reveals that almost every Scottish taxi driver (98%) has encountered problems with fare dodgers and abusive passengers who have used taxis, with 70% of these drivers admitting to fearing for their safety at work.
Student Moira Kerr, studying her MSc in Transport, Planning and Engineering, interviewed hackney drivers around Scotland.
Under the Influence
Alcohol is proving to play a major part in this criminal behaviour, as 88% of drivers interviewed reported they had been verbally or physically abused by passengers who were under the influence.
The offenders who have used taxis are not only intoxicated youngsters, surprisingly; elderly passengers have been dodging fares too. An Edinburgh driver is reported to have had an elderly lady say she was going to get money who then never returned to pay her fare. Another Glasgow cabbie revealed how he was threatened at gunpoint over a measly four pound bill.
Taxi Threat
Ms Kerr observed: “I found it shocking to hear how frequently taxi drivers have to deal with threatening behaviour. No-one should have to put up with that.”
The study indicated that even though male passengers caused more of a threat to cabbies, subjective evidence found female passengers were also a worry.