Is It No Longer Deemed Safe For A Lone Female To Travel By Taxi?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4741030/Figures-Uber-drivers-linked-one-sex-attack-week.html

[Zacs-Master]

No I don't think it is. I mean, as a lady I'd certainly be put off by the fact that 1 in a million taxi journeys allegedly end in sexual assault.

[murraymints]

I for one would not feel particularly safe using a taxi Hailed or from a place I don't know..always have used a local one that even asks if a lady driver is a preference...

[jackthehat]

By whom?

We are all responsible for our own safety and must remain vigilant at all times.

[ummmm]

I've never used Uber and I'm not sure how it works.

[albaqwerty]

when I phone for a taxi, I receive a text telling me make, model and reg no. of the car which is going to pick me up.
Same with if it's a male who phones taxi company

[Zacs-Master]

it works via an app on your phone ummm. I strongly suspect that some of the wives and girlfriends of non Uber taxi drivers may be behind the 'alleged' reports. No doubt the Met are onto this.

[ummmm]

Same Alba so I presuming Uber doesn't work that way.

[Zacs-Master]

What difference does it make if it tells you the make model and ref number? All Uber cabs identify the driver and car:
https://help.uber.com/h/02746faf-1bc6-4d3f-8ba2-ab35f36d7191

[ummmm]

If you've never used Uber you wouldn't know that.

[Eve]

I use Uber frequently as a lone female passenger. When you are connected to the taxi which will pick you up you get their name, a photo (headshot) and the registration of the car. It is also GPS tracked so you can see where the car is as it makes its way to you. You then get a notification when the car is about to arrive, pretty sure that has the name of the driver and make and licence on it too.

Once the ride has finished, you get an email through which confirms the cost of the ride and how it was calculated and it confirms details of the journey and times too.

Both the driver and the passenger rate each other after the trip. You also get a change to make any comments about it, good or bad.

[Zacs-Master]

I've never used Uber ummmm and I knew, or at least found out.

[albaqwerty]

don't use Uber. Don't even think they are in my neck of the country.
I like the text from local taxi firm, as I think, does ummm

[Eve]

Chance to make comments even! The app confirms the make of the car too.

It's useful to have it tracked as you can stay indoors, say if it's raining, or say somewhere safe on a night out, until you know that the taxi is about to arrive as you can see where it is and get the notification. It's great not to need to have cash on you too. Very useful in an emergency.

The customer services are pretty good too. There is also a function which means you can call the driver of the car while waiting and it is diverted through Uber so the driver never has your number.

[Zacs-Master]

Hey ummmm. You've never used Uber and no you know! Mind blowing huh?

Anyway, I'd really welcome the OP joining in the debate.

[ummmm]

Pretty much the same as any taxi firm I use...

I can't say I've ever felt under threat in a taxi.

[murraymints]

I would certainly never hail a taxi in town ..too many imposters on the prowl..especially nights and weekends...

[Eve]

You can't hail a cab on the street here (Manchester) unless it's a black cab. Private hire aren't insured to take someone unless the taxi has been booked through an operator. Very different from when I lived in Leeds where it was more a free-for-all. There are sanctions for those who break the rules, I'm sure there was one in the local news a while ago got caught.

[murraymints]

supposed to be like that up here too Eve...but still a free for all of a weekend and early hours... although airport taxis are well controlled... drivers have to pay a small fortune for a place on the rank there !

[Togo]

//Anyway, I'd really welcome the OP joining in the debate.//

Haha. Anyone wonder why that would be?

[Zacs-Master]

Politeness. The art of debate.