Bus & Taxi Cab Passenger Safety Tips

Thousands of people across the nation take public transportation every day. As a passenger, you should follow this safety advice when boarding a bus or a taxi to increase your personal safety.
Road Safety Suggestions

• Be cognizant of traffic patterns and local road culture.


• Avoid crowded taxi cabs.


• Be on the lookout for reckless driving such as speeding, apparent drowsiness, blatant disregard for traffic control devices, and inattention to driving.


• If the driver drives irresponsibly, get out at the first safe opportunity


• If you feel you are at risk, say something to the driver!


• Avoid riding with other passengers who seem to be inebriated or on medication, excessively tired, irrational, or distracted.


• Ride only in taxi cabs with working seat belts in the back seat.


• Avoid night time traveling, especially in country areas.

Physical Security Suggestions

• If you are not sure which taxi service companies are reputable, ask for information at the information desk, hotel front desk, shop cashier, restaurant personnel, or even staff. They might also be helpful with communication problems you may encounter. Have a local write down your destination for the taxi driver to read.


• Plan ahead of time how to get home before you leave.


• Take a business card of a reputable taxi service company and request a taxi when you need it.


• Never travel alone. If possible, travel with some friends.


• Calling for a taxi is the safest way to travel especially during night.


• Try not to let anybody know that you are ordering a taxi cab. If they hear your name and destination, they may use that information to "steal" the taxi you ordered.


• If you called for a taxi, wait for the driver to approach you. Do not approach a taxi that you think is yours.


• Ask the driver the name and destination you have given the taxi company to see if he is your driver. Do not climb into a taxi you have not ordered.


• If you must flag down a taxi, use one from an established company. For this to occur, you must have some advanced knowledge of the taxi companies in the area.


• Before you climb into the taxi, ensure that the driver agrees to take you to your destination.


• When you climb into the taxi, note the company name, cab number, driver's name, taxi driver ID number, and photograph if possible.


• Do not take rides from taxi drivers who randomly approach you. This is illegal on his part in many jurisdictions and a safety issue for you as a passenger.


• Sit in the back seat.

Information on Taxi Cab Fares

• If the driver tries to make a deal with you instead of using the meter or claims his meter is broken, do not use the taxi. The city's or state's taxi enforcement commission requires that meters should be operable at ALL times so as not to cheat the public.


• Ask a trusted friend, relative, or individual who has used the service before what the fare should be.


• The key to successful negotiating is to ask the cab driver what the fare should be BEFORE you climb into a taxi. The moment you sit down, you are the cab driver's next customer.

There are many taxi cab drivers who are honest about earning their wages, but just as every other profession, there are some bad apples. By heeding these safety tips for passengers, you can minimize becoming a victim to the criminal tendencies of some unethical taxi cab drivers.

Fabiola Castillo is an online marketer for the website NinjaCOPS.com. This virtual store specializes in personal defense products where you can buy pepper spray, kubaton keychains, wireless hidden cameras, cheap stun guns, nunchaku technique videos, expandable steel batons, and many other home security products.