Scary experiences in taxis

[ralphuschristsuperstar]

I travel regularly to London (live in the North) for work and I get back late and night so get a taxi.

I don't enjoy getting taxis really because you don't know what you are gong to get. Had many cases of them speeding. Last night a young lad drove me and he was SCROLLING ON HIS PHONE whilst driving. He was driving slow but not the point is it. He was also a dozy and his eyes / eyelids looked like he was stoned but I can't be 100% sure on that one.

Jury is out on being stoned but the phone use is absolutely disgusting and I reported him to the taxi company. My Dad's wife before my Mum was killed due to a dangerous driver and my Dad was seriously injured. I asked to not have that driver again but I would be nervous about getting a taxi with the company again in case I got him.

Likely I will get a black cab in future as I can at least see who I am getting and never had a case where older gentleman were handling their phone whilst driving. I know this isn't a guarantee of safe driving though.

So selfish when your JOB is to safely drive people and you act so selfishly.

I would much prefer to drive home myself but don't feel great about leaving my car for 2.5 days in town centre. Does anyone know of local valet type companies who 'look after' your car? I life in small Northern town so not sure if I am reaching here.

Thank you.

That's terrible, OP, you did the right thing by reporting him. I don't get taxis these days, and hate the thought of ever having to as ultimately, you're getting into a car with a man you don't know and that's not something I'd want to do.

Hope you get some more useful replies!

Thank you. 🧡 You’re literally putting your life in their hands!

A colleague and I were once driven from a restaurant back to our hotel by literally the WORST driver I have ever seen. It was in a very 'wild west' city in China, and a lot of poorer people from the outlying towns had come there to make money, hence an endemic problem with tax 'drivers' who didn't actually know how to drive.

We both honestly thought we were going to be killed. The driver drove on the wrong side of the road, sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow, turning left across the traffic at random...colleague and I were sitting in in the back holding hands in fear. When we eventually got back to our hotel, we went to the bar for a drink and told the barman what had happened. He was horrified!

Get his taxi reg number (they need to register with council) and report to the licensing dept at your council. They can revoke his bloody taxi licence (the taxi firm dont really have much power - taxi drivers are often self employed working under a firm's umbrella).