Staying Safe on Public Transport At Night
Look at the Prying eyes! Yes roads are no more safe when Prying eyes burn bright. With the incessant growth of crime in streets and in public transport these days, night commuting has become very challenging and scary. If you use public transport to get back from your workplace or visit any social events, you ought to be careful particularly during the night. It is because of this police and administrations have warned passengers to be extra cautious while hiring and boarding taxis or minicabs.
Staying Safe While Travelling
Prior to hiring, make sure you are hiring a licensed minicab service provider. Mind it all minicabs are now licensed. This process is still underway but they should all be licensed. Well, if you wish to check that the minicab firm you use is licensed, you should check with your local council.
Get rid of Taxi Touts
Apart from minicabs, there are an increasing number of taxi touts operating these days particularly late at night. They are unregistered drivers who make an attempt to pick up fares in busy areas offering budget fares than registered minicabs. The police warn that these night cabs are often hired by some criminals to target mid-aged women and should be avoided. When people get into these cabs they are surprisingly entering into a stranger’s car that is untraceable. There always lies a risk of becoming an easy target of foul intentioned people. If this goes on, then in is of no use, tracing the offender as they are not registered taxi drivers.
Opt for Pre-Booking
Although legitimate minicabs are now licensed, they are allowed to carry passengers who book them in advance. For instance, if you wish to hire a minicab, it is advisable to take the phone number of the service provider with you when you go out. In case, you don’t have the number, you can take the help of a friend for the authentic number.
Be careful while hiring cab in Public place
Mind you if you are calling a cab from public place to ensure that you cannot be overheard by strangers since this might give away your address. To be very secure, when you are ordering a cab to pick you up from public place don’t just give your full name or address.
Trust your instincts.
If you don’t feel relaxed with the taxi that arrives for you or stops for you, then trust your instincts and take another cab. Better safe than sorry!
Always sit in the back
It is always advised by the safety experts that women should sit at the back every time they board a cab rather than the front seat since this keeps you at safe distance from the driver. In addition, you will also have easy access to two doors to get down from the cab in case any untoward incidents happen.
To conclude, as a passenger if you find any issues with your minicab, it is important to report the issue to police. In doing so, you would be able to help protect future passengers.