IREFER to the report, "Robberies and assaults on cabbies go up" (The Straits Times, Oct 21).
It is alarming to note that the number of assaults and robberies involving taxi drivers stands at 40 for the first eight months of the year.
Because of the nature of their job and the odd hours they work, taxi drivers are vulnerable to crime.
Taxi companies are duty- bound to look into the personal safety of their drivers and take appropriate steps to ameliorate the situation.
In other cities such as London, a panel separates passengers from the cab driver.
However, aside from physical protection, taxi companies should assist taxi drivers in safekeeping their earnings while on the road, perhaps by installing safeboxes in the cab, as well as promoting cashless transactions through the use of the ez-link card or CashCard.
Taxi drivers should have the right to reject passengers who are drunk or potentially aggressive.
There should also be notices in taxis warning passengers of the severe penalties for physical or verbal abuse of taxi drivers.
Cabbies have the right to a safe working environment, and violence should not be seen as an acceptable occupational hazard for them.
