Women's taxis score high on safety and reliability

Abu Dhabi: Women residents in the capital have hailed the introduction of  women's taxis and want more of these to be made available.

Frequent passengers of the women-driven taxis told Gulf News that they felt much safer in the cabs, adding that they were very satisfied with the drivers' knowledge of the roads.

Hana Hounaine, 22, a Lebanese student, said she preferred women's taxis when she could find one.

"I've been chatted up so many times by male taxi drivers that I am relieved to see these new cabs.

"I came across them a month ago, and have used a number of them since. Apart from the feeling of safety, what I really liked was how one driver used the GPS to take me to a newly-opened hotel far from the city," Hana said.

Responsive

Hana added that the drivers were also responsive to instructions, and that she would love to see more of them around town.

A 24-year-old university student from Libya, Bushra Mohammad, said she regularly used the ladies' taxis to travel to university.

"I used to take the university-provided bus, but I hated the long journey to the campus. Now I have switched to using the women's taxis; I can get to the university in less time with no worries about safety," Bushra said.

Female taxi drivers also reported that residents who used the taxis were delighted to see women behind the wheel.

"Not only do they feel safer in my cab, I too am happy to drive female passengers," said Shirley Portillo, 35, who has been driving one of Al Ghazal's women's taxis for five months.

Portillo added, however, that many residents were still unaware of the taxis.

"Sometimes, men insist on getting into the cab and I have to explain to them that only ladies and boys below the age of ten are allowed. Women also assume that the cabs are more expensive than regular taxis, and I have to tell them that the charges are the same," she said.

Saeed Salem Al Rumaithi, director of corporate services at TransAD, told Gulf News that there were about 50 women's taxis on the road.

"We expect to have more taxis for female residents," he said.

What do you think of this service? Do you prefer taking a taxi for women over the other choices? Why?