I watched the video retrieved from the club in the USA where the girl rushed out and got into a car. She had called a cab ride company. Te video clearly shows her rushing out and grabbing the back door or the car and jumping in, without stopping to ask the car driver if he is her cab.
A fatal mistake.
Before getting into a cab I always want to check:
Is this car affiliated to a cab company?
Does the driver know the route to my destination?
Is the price or price limit or metering agreed?
(No cab with a not working meter. No unexpected double fares after midnight nor charges for tolls. maybe I have spent most of my cash on tips in a restaurant. If I only have twenty dollars in cash, I will tell him. I will ask if he has change of a large note, or if he can take a credit card, and if he can give me a receipt.
I want to be sure I have enough money and don't get locked in or attacked by a driver aggrieved because I can't or won't pay the amount charged at the end. He might charge for an extra suitcase.
Changi Airport Taxi
I have twice got into a large taxi at Changi airport. Great. Comfy. Plenty of room.
Then at the destination I found I was charged half as much again as the usual fare because it is a limo or large vehicle. Once I did it myself, just taking the nearest taxi, because you are supposed to take the one at the head of the queue. On another occasion, the official in charge of the queue sent me to a bigger vehicle because I had more than one suitcase plus the carry on bag.
If the person directing the queue points me to the nearest vehicle and I can see it is a large vehicle, even if I have two or three suitcases, I shake my head and say,
"No thanks. I want a regular, standard size taxi, at a regular, standard price."
My other thoughts, even when the uniformed doorman at a hotel or club hails a taxi and opens the passenger door for me ... Before getting in, I will speak to the driver or the doorman.
I want to know:
Does the driver speak good English?
Does the driver understand the destination?
Does he know the way? Is he using satnav/ Or does he know it anyway?
Will he give me a receipt? (The receipt will show what I paid, if I was overcharged.
Tracking Cab For Losses
I might know if my cab was a specific company. You would think they can easily track down your journey by your destination or home address, if you are registered with a particular company. But they will often want the car number plate.
I like a receipt. I can find the taxi if I left something behind. Once I left behind an umbrella. Once I dropped a brooch which fell off my dress. Once I threw my passport on top of my carry-on bag. Back home I realised my passport was still in the car boot. (Americans would say car trunk.)
Is the driver sane, sober and friendly?
I don't want to be driven off into daylight or darkness, down a side road, by somebody who cannot or will not speak English, and does not seem sober, alert and friendly.
Shared Taxi
Some shared taxi charge more if you take an extra passenger, such as your friend who is going the same way. The taxi may charge extra for a diversion.
Photo of Indian auto-rickshaw, author of illustration Mohammed, in Wikipedia.
Tuk-tuks and rickshaws, India, Asia and worldwide
We followed our hotel's taxi driver across two car parks out of the airport. I was getting quite worried. Then we found out why he was not parked amidst the coaches and taxis. He was driving an electric rickshaw!
The biggest danger was not the driver. Given, the speed and lack of doors, I was likely to be thrown out. More immediate danger, losing my hat!
At least the hotel knew our driver, vehicle, and that we were not a late no-show.
Stay safe!
Useful Websites
News
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6868023/University-South-Carolina-student-Samantha-Josephson-confirmed-dead.html#reader-comments
Video shows her climbing into the back of the car without first speaking to the driver.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6871927/Mom-student-killed-fake-Uber-driver-slams-vile-killer.html
Taxis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_taxicab_operation
Sharing Rides
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Share_taxi
Lyft
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyft
https://www.lyft.com/
Uber
https://www.uber.com/
https://www.uber.com/en-SG/safety/
https://www.uber.com/newsroom/checkyourride/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uber
Grab
https://help.grab.com/passenger/en-sg/360000002827-What-is-the-Emergency-button
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
A fatal mistake.
Before getting into a cab I always want to check:
Is this car affiliated to a cab company?
Does the driver know the route to my destination?
Is the price or price limit or metering agreed?
(No cab with a not working meter. No unexpected double fares after midnight nor charges for tolls. maybe I have spent most of my cash on tips in a restaurant. If I only have twenty dollars in cash, I will tell him. I will ask if he has change of a large note, or if he can take a credit card, and if he can give me a receipt.
I want to be sure I have enough money and don't get locked in or attacked by a driver aggrieved because I can't or won't pay the amount charged at the end. He might charge for an extra suitcase.
Changi Airport Taxi
I have twice got into a large taxi at Changi airport. Great. Comfy. Plenty of room.
Then at the destination I found I was charged half as much again as the usual fare because it is a limo or large vehicle. Once I did it myself, just taking the nearest taxi, because you are supposed to take the one at the head of the queue. On another occasion, the official in charge of the queue sent me to a bigger vehicle because I had more than one suitcase plus the carry on bag.
If the person directing the queue points me to the nearest vehicle and I can see it is a large vehicle, even if I have two or three suitcases, I shake my head and say,
"No thanks. I want a regular, standard size taxi, at a regular, standard price."
My other thoughts, even when the uniformed doorman at a hotel or club hails a taxi and opens the passenger door for me ... Before getting in, I will speak to the driver or the doorman.
I want to know:
Does the driver speak good English?
Does the driver understand the destination?
Does he know the way? Is he using satnav/ Or does he know it anyway?
Will he give me a receipt? (The receipt will show what I paid, if I was overcharged.
Tracking Cab For Losses
I might know if my cab was a specific company. You would think they can easily track down your journey by your destination or home address, if you are registered with a particular company. But they will often want the car number plate.
I like a receipt. I can find the taxi if I left something behind. Once I left behind an umbrella. Once I dropped a brooch which fell off my dress. Once I threw my passport on top of my carry-on bag. Back home I realised my passport was still in the car boot. (Americans would say car trunk.)
Is the driver sane, sober and friendly?
I don't want to be driven off into daylight or darkness, down a side road, by somebody who cannot or will not speak English, and does not seem sober, alert and friendly.
Shared Taxi
Some shared taxi charge more if you take an extra passenger, such as your friend who is going the same way. The taxi may charge extra for a diversion.
Photo of Indian auto-rickshaw, author of illustration Mohammed, in Wikipedia.
Tuk-tuks and rickshaws, India, Asia and worldwide
We followed our hotel's taxi driver across two car parks out of the airport. I was getting quite worried. Then we found out why he was not parked amidst the coaches and taxis. He was driving an electric rickshaw!
The biggest danger was not the driver. Given, the speed and lack of doors, I was likely to be thrown out. More immediate danger, losing my hat!
At least the hotel knew our driver, vehicle, and that we were not a late no-show.
Stay safe!
Useful Websites
News
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6868023/University-South-Carolina-student-Samantha-Josephson-confirmed-dead.html#reader-comments
Video shows her climbing into the back of the car without first speaking to the driver.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6871927/Mom-student-killed-fake-Uber-driver-slams-vile-killer.html
Taxis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_taxicab_operation
Sharing Rides
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Share_taxi
Lyft
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyft
https://www.lyft.com/
Uber
https://www.uber.com/
https://www.uber.com/en-SG/safety/
https://www.uber.com/newsroom/checkyourride/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uber
Grab
https://help.grab.com/passenger/en-sg/360000002827-What-is-the-Emergency-button
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
I have an earlier post on the subject of safety and taxis and cabs.
Please share links to your favourite posts.
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