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28 March 2024

Dubai cabbie's day: What hit-and-run and drink-driving really mean

Published
By Mohammed El Sadafy

While passenger complaints about taxi drivers have always garnered attention, the latest report by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai, specifies taxi drivers’ problems.

The report sheds light on passengers’ misconduct. Majority of complaints are of passengers not willing to pay the complete fare.

Other complaints involved customers not knowing the exact location where they would want to go; passengers hailing cabs under the influence of alcohol and falling unconscious in the taxi; using drivers’ mobiles, etc.

Dr Yousef Al Ali, CEO of RTA Public Transport Agency in Dubai that the number of complaints of drivers against passengers was about 15 in 2013, which declined significantly in the first half of this year to just two.

He said that mostly such complaints occur because of lack of awareness of drivers. Dr Ali said most of the complaints from drivers are regarding verbal abuse by passengers and non-payment of fares. While 30 per cent complaints involve insults by passengers, only 20 per cent involve non-payment of fares.

Five taxi companies are affiliated to the RTA – Dubai Taxi, Cars Taxi, Arabian Taxi, National taxi and Metro. And there are an estimated 20,256 drivers in all.

Emirates24|7 spoke to a number of taxi drivers in Dubai, who said that they were the victims and the ones who are blamed in majority of cases for passengers’ misconduct. They also alleged that their supervisors never supported them when they complained.

An Indian, who has been a driver with Dubai Taxi for six years, said, “I had a very bad experience once, when four Arab youths hailed the taxi. After I dropped two of them where they asked me to, the other two boys refused to pay me the fare and made fun of me, too.”

A Pakistani driver, recalling his experience, said, “While I was on my way to drop a woman, four Arab youth chased my taxi in their car. They asked me to stop and wanted the phone number of the woman passenger. When I refused, they filed a complaint against my driving.”

Yet another taxi driver said, “A couple of GCC nationals hired him in a drunken state from Bani Yas road and requested they be dropped off at Al Barsha’a area. Once inside, they started teasing me and slapping me on my back. When I threatened to call the police, they got off without paying me. The fare had crossed Dh58.”

In another incident, the taxi driver said he had picked up a person from Al Satwa area. He wanted to go to Al Mamzar area. “While on our way, he asked me to stop the car in front of a shop, saying he wanted to buy something. I was surprised when he ran away without paying.”

Inebriated passengers

Another taxi driver shared his bad experience, when a European passenger in an inebriated state threatened to jump off the taxi when he asked for payment.

Some other taxi drivers also claimed of unpleasant incidents with drunken passengers. “One day a European woman stopped the taxi in Tecom area and asked me to take her to Motor City. She was drunk and fell asleep in the car. When I reached the destination I was afraid to wake her up lest she complaints of harassment. So I called my supervisor who directed me to call the police, who woke her up. She not only paid the Dh100 fare, but also Dh20 for 4 hours’ delay.

Daily target

However, majority of the drivers claim that their daily target of Dh450 is a concern. On some days when the car is broken down or out of service, it becomes difficult to achieve the target.

Lack of awareness

Meanwhile, drivers complain passengers’ lack of knowledge of locations. About 2 per cent of complaints by drivers involve passengers’ consumption of alcohol.

Dr Ali noted that some problems between drivers and passengers have been referred to police but none have gone to the courts yet. He said disputes involved Asian and Arab passengers and included both men and women.

Drivers are being given training classes on how to handle passengers. Drivers are taught the importance of good manners, patience and self-control, Dr Ali added.

Meanwhile, drivers who spoke to the website sought respect from their companies and demanded a fair investigation into complaints filed against them. They also demanded that the complaints be looked into quickly so as not to waste time in suspension.