To be nervous about my 12 year old using a taxi alone?

[listsandbudgets]

Shes uses bus and train but generally there are plenty of other people about if anything happens.
In a taxi though if anything went wrong or the driver decided to take advantage in any way she would be in a very vunerable position. My friend laughed and said I was being over protective and she lets her 11 year old dd use them all the time. I know that the majority of drivers are decent hard working people but somehow.can not shake off the worry she might get one who isn't.. probably because when I was 18 O was faced woth a driver who doubled usual fare and when I couldnt pay got in the back and tried to grope me... I managed to whack him in face get out and scream and man passing by stopped and stayed with me but I cant get it out of my head 20 years later

[BlueBug45]

Can you find a taxi company in your local area that has only female drivers?

[MiggeldyHiggins]

What my friends and I used to do was take a photo of the drivers ID sign thing when you get it and text it to a friend. They see you do and know that someone already knows where you are, in who's car, at what time etc.

[Failingat40]

Yanbu.

I am generally not a fan of taxi drivers.

Obviously there are some good, genuine ones BUT many are not.

I think if I was to use a taxi for an unaccompanied child I'd have to use a company with a school contract and have it booked in advance with details of the driver etc known in advance.

[IllBeAtTheBarIfYouNeedMe]

I used an Uber for my dd when she needed to do a taxi journey alone. They send you the information of the driver before it arrives and you can track it on its entire journey if you wanted to.

My ds gets taxi transport to school and he’s been doing that with a dbs checked company since he was 11. He’s always been fine

[specialsubject]

female drivers can still assault and drive dangerously.

or she can keep using bus and train and just plan life round that.

[Carolynnnna]

What kind of taxi are you talking about here?

Prebooked and prepaid licenced cab from a reputable firm—no problem.

Minicab hailed on the street—potential problem.

[Butterflykissess]

I feel safer in taxis, there are always police appeals in my area for sexual assaults that have taken place on public transport.

[bassackwards]

OP sorry to hear about your scary past experience.

Personally, I'd feel comfortable putting a child alone in a London black cab, but nothing else.

[iklboo]

Our taxi firm has a pre book app which sends you details of the car & driver name. You can track its route and they send you an 'arrived at destination' alert and a receipt for how much was charged.

[Whatshallidonowpeople]

Not every man is a predator just waiting for one of you to appear!

[MiggeldyHiggins]

Not every man is a predator just waiting for one of you to appear!

Well fucking obviously, but neither do they wear badges so you can tell which is the nice man and which is the predator.

[listsandbudgets]

whatshallidonowpeople if you read my post properly you'll see my concern related to a minority and I said the majority are fine. I have met plenty of men in my life time and the very vast majority have never assaulted or even disquieted me in anyway whatsoever

Thank you for the thoughts. yes if I could find a reliable couple of drivers I was sure had been properly checked I may consider again but its not so easy to do especially at busy times which is when she often needs them.

I'm probably being over protective. I just can't shake it off

[SkyZoomerChase]

YANBU, most times have been fine but a few times I've been in a taxi and felt very uncomfortable. I remember at 17 getting a taxi back late from babysitting and the much older driver asking questions about if I had a boyfriend, if I'd been on any dates recently etc.
I think I'd wait until 16 minimum unless it was a small company where I'd met the drivers before.

[SlowlyLosingMyMind]

That is still a little young in my opinion.
I was always a little unsure in taxis when I was about 14.
I would get in, make a quick call to someone (usually my mum) say I am in the taxi and I will call again when I get where I was going.
It always made me feel a little safer as the drive knew someone was waiting for a call.
Most drivers a lovely but sadly some have gave all a bad name.

[lanbury]

In our area a lot of taxi firms have dbs checked drivers as their firms are employed for school transport (SEN schools in particular) so if you're researching a taxi firm, you could check this.

[Baden157]

IllBeAtTheBarIfYouNeedMe Please don't use uber for unaccompanied minors. Their T&Cs are clear and state that anyone under 18 must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older.

[Puffycat]

I’d say go with your gut OP. If you can’t shake off the anxiety don’t do it.
The only time my dd went alone in a cab at that age was with a Blackcab driver that I have known for several years.
Btw I wouldn’t feel happy about her going in an Uber at any age, not after all the bad press!

[Whatshallidonowpeople]

It's pointless to worry about things like this. The vast majority of assaults etc are from PEOPLE KNOWN TO THE VICTIM. Your husbands, boyfriends, uncles, teachers. Etc. These are the people you need to worry about.

[MiggeldyHiggins]

It's pointless to worry about things like this. The vast majority of assaults etc are from PEOPLE KNOWN TO THE VICTIM. Your husbands, boyfriends, uncles, teachers. Etc. These are the people you need to worry about

Except the ones that aren't.
Where i live a man pulled a woman off the street this week and killed her. Total stranger. Don't pretend it doesn't happen when it does. Ofcourse we have to worry about it.

[Whyamihere]

My daughter has CFS and gets a taxi to and from school, she's 13. I was worried at first but I always order the taxi on my mobile phone and in my area they send you a text telling you the make and number plate of the car. I still worry because it is like sending my daughter into the unknown every day. She's now been doing this for months (only a couple of days a week) and she is now well practiced and I feel a bit easier.

[Pinga]

Having read this book I would caution all women/girls to be extremely cautious about travelling in a taxi.
www.amazon.co.uk/Please-Let-Me-Go-Traffickers/dp/1786065134/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=please%20let%20me%20go&ie=UTF8&qid=1527162943&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[WatfordorLeightonBuzzard]

YANBU OP. I hope you find a solution.

[purplecorkheart]

I would a ring round of the local taxi firms and ask them if they have drivers with police clearance. My local has drivers with Police Clearance as they do work with schools and health centres

[driveninsanebythehubby]

Tricky one. When I was a kid in the Guides, I used to get a taxi by myself every week from there to home. Always male drivers but never an issue. I never felt like I was in danger, or felt uncomfortable.

As a parent, I once had to arrange for a taxi to collect my 2 young sons from school as I was at work and my dad who was due to collect them but there was some reason at the last minute he couldn’t collect them so I booked a taxi to take them to him and my mum. They were absolutely fine and really enjoyed it!

However - we live in a small town. If I lived in a city I’d be more cautious. I haven’t read the full thread to know if you’ve said this, sorry!

Could you ask the school which taxi companies they use as I presume those drivers will be trusted, known to them and DBS checked (or whatever it’s called)? Maybe you could use the same companies to make you feel better?

I hope whatever you decide you don’t have any problems as a result. It’s not easy when we know about all the dangers in the world - and even more do with what happened to you as a teenager.

[driveninsanebythehubby]

Just realised I had read the full thread - I thought there was another page or two!