UAE | Traffic and Transport

Passengers in Abu Dhabi fume over taxi drivers' behaviour

One suspended after he abused pregnant woman and refused to transport her.

  • By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:14 April 13, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Women wait for taxis by the side of the road. A driver of an old taxi in Abu Dhabi has been suspended for misbehaving with a female passenger.
  • Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: A taxi driver has been suspended for a week after misbehaving with a female passenger, said an official.

Trans AD, the taxi regulatory authority in Abu Dhabi, received a complaint from a female passenger that a driver of an old taxi had shouted at her and used abusive language because he did not want to drive to the area where she wanted to go.

"The complaint against the driver was investigated and it was decided to suspend him," Khalid Al Rasheedi, General Manager of Trans AD, told Gulf News.

Nancy, the passenger, said: "I am nine months pregnant and after a doctor's appointment on March 29 along with my aged mother, I hired a taxi to go back home from Abu Dhabi city. I asked the driver to take us to Mushrif. The driver told me to get out as he did not want to drive on that route."

She said she repeated her request as it was very hot and she was not feeling well, but it was futile. "When I told him that I would not get out, since it was his duty as a public cab driver to take passengers to their destination of choice, he started abusing me and my mom. I told him he had the choice to take me to the nearest police station. Then he started the vehicle and drove very rashly and abused me throughout the journey."

She called the toll free number and complained. "I am very impressed by the prompt action taken by Trans AD. I was told that the driver would be suspended from work for a week. I hope this is a lesson for him," said Nancy.

Many of the female passengers Gulf News spoke to, echoed her complaints about drivers of old taxis. "They don't behave properly. If they do, it will be an attempt to get friendly with women and to ask their mobile numbers," said A.B, a resident on Hamdan Street.

"A driver from an old taxi asked me to give him a missed call to find his misplaced mobile. Realising that it was his trick to get my number, I switched off my mobile and ignored his request, she said. "Within a minute, his mobile rang and he took it from his pocket."

Women are more satisfied with the behaviour of drivers of new taxis.

Complaints: Register problems here

Khalid Al Rasheedi, General Manager of Trans AD, the Centre for the Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars, told Gulf News passengers have to call the customer care number (600 535 353) to register any complaints about taxi drivers.

If the operator is busy, callers can leave a message with the automatic answering system. "They can also register complaints at our website, www.transad.ae." He asked people to make a note of the ID of the taxi for proper investigation.

Trans AD has a mandate from Abu Dhabi Government to suspend or revoke taxi driving permits for reckless driving, racism, misbehaviour or criminal offences, said Al Rasheedi.

Al Rasheedi cautioned the public against using illegal taxis. "Trans AD uncovered some illegal taxi operations in Al Ain City. We have taken prompt action as per the law which stipulates a fine of Dh5,000, or 30 days jail as the punishment for the driver," he said.

The punishment will be doubled if the offence is repeated, he pointed out. He said no taxi drivers are allowed to operate on fixed fares. Meters should always be functional for all journeys or penalties will be imposed by Trans AD.

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