Not as safe as we think

The Limerick taxi driver sentenced to seven years for raping a passenger has made me stop and think of the danger women and sometimes men put themselves in every time they get a cab.


You are entrusting your safety with a complete stranger, who may or may not be licensed.

On TV3s show Midday on Tuesday 09 February, they mentioned the fact that you do not have to show ID or even your licence to purchase the taxi roof sign that so many intoxicated people love to see late on a Saturday night.

http://www.tv3.ie/videos.php?video=19214&locID=1.65.185&date=2010-02-09&date_mode=1&page=1&show_cal=2&newspanel=&showspanel=1&web_only=&full_episodes=

I personally try not to get a taxi on my own, and especially at night, but so many women, especially after consuming alcohol, are putting themselves in an incredibly vulnerable position.

Driving through Limerick city on any given night of the week, you just have to drive past a night club at closing time to see so many girls, arms stretched out, feet in pain, willing to take the next lift available.

I am reminded of a night when my boyfriend, parked outside Trinity Rooms nightclub, waiting to collect me, had a girl come up to the passenger door and try to get in. After being told sorry, but this isn't a cab, she replied, do you want to be?

Gladly this incident involved a decent person who did not whisk her away, to anywhere they wanted. But it makes me wonder, did this girl stumble upon another car, where the driver decided they would make themselves a taxi for her?

The victim in relation to the Limerick case was a 19 year old student, who after a night out, got into John Ryan's taxi. He then drove her to a secluded spot, raped and sexually assaulted her.

The Irish Times website stated that Ryan had previous convictions for public order offences, common assault and forgery.

Why was this man given a licence, to hold a position of trust and responsibility??

There should be a more rigorous screening process before someone is deemed suitable to drive a taxi.

He was convicted of assault previously, he should not have been trusted in a job that requires delivering your passengers safely to their destination.

I know by saying criminals should not work in that profession, it is opening up a much larger issue of, if not taxi driver, then what?

I know in most occupations there is an element of trust and responsibility, but this particular situation often results in passengers travelling alone, unprotected and frequently at night.

It is incredibly easy for a taxi driver to pick up a girl on her own, at night, and drive wherever he wants with her.

It is also the reverse of this that is causing problems, taxi drivers being attacked, or people running out on fares.

During Midday, the presenters began a discussion on the safety of taxis, and a cab driver contacted the show saying drunk girls have offered sexual favours, in return for a free lift.

This is something that trustworthy, criminal conviction-less taxi drivers should not have to put up with.

But at the end of the day I think women are the most at risk category, and should think twice about getting a cab on their own.

Women, and men, need to protect themselves, even if it is just organising a lift home with a friend, instead of on your own.

It is not just taxi drivers with criminal convictions that can put their passengers at risk, you could be their first crime.

The BBC have a list of ways to stay safe in taxis, which is linked below.

As for me, I'm off to buy a taxi roof sign, clearly I don't have a taxi licence, I don't even have a full drivers licence, but I hear they won’t even ask to see it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/crimewatch/support/personalsafety/taxis_and_minicabs_safety.shtml

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0208/ryanj.html

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0208/breaking71.htm


KM