Are Dublin taxis safe?

My_left_leg

I ask this question in light of moves by Minister of State for Public and Commuter Transport Alan Kelly to seek to drive criminality out of the industry.

Personally I've had a few hair raising experiences with Dublin taxis. On one occasion I was assaulted when I asked the driver to stop talking.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0609/1224298641834.html

hese include claims of fraudulent use of taxi plates such as “cloning” – running two cars with the same number plates – using fraudulent documentation, taxi licences and NCT certification.

The review will also look at the number of taxis and the practice of individual ownership of multiple licences, as well as the suitability of the holders of licences.

He said most taxi drivers were honest and law-abiding and the review would support their entitlement to make a living.

eh yeah i'd say so

Nick Guats

My_left_leg wrote: »

I ask this question in light of moves by Minister of State for Public and Commuter Transport Alan Kelly to seek to drive criminality out of the industry.

Personally I've had a few hair raising experiences with Dublin taxis. On one occasion I was assaulted when I asked the driver to stop talking.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0609/1224298641834.html

Why did you ask the taxi driver to stop talking?

bluewolf

bluewolf wrote: »

eh yeah i'd say so

You don't think most taxi drivers are honest?

Maximus Alexander

I would imagine they are no more or less safe than Dublin streets.

myflipflops

My_left_leg wrote: »

Personally I've had a few hair raising experiences with Dublin taxis. On one occasion I was assaulted when I asked the driver to stop talking.

I hope you reported this to the police.

I have never had an issue with aggresive behaviour from any taxi driver in Dublin and I have been in lots. I believe Dublin taxis are very safe.

I suggest there is about the same amount of scumbags operating as taxi drivers in Dublin as there is in any other industry that is equally easy to enter.

My_left_leg

there's been a very big increase in Nigerians into the industry.
most are polite and helpful tbh, but some could do with improving their "knowledge" imo.

Paulzx

My_left_leg wrote: »

. when I asked the driver to stop talking.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0609/1224298641834.html

You should of asked him for a handjob. There'd be more chance of it

teddansonswig

imo, on friday/sat nights, its not safe on the roads of Dublin city for any other driver/road users because of bad and dangerous driving by Dublins taxis.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056487218

JonathanAnon

I would have serious issues with taxi drivers.. They are not vetted any way near enough... A number of the Irish taxi drivers have criminal convictions and we have no idea of the background of the foreign nationals.

cunnijo

I agree. It's not just the Nigerians that need to update the knowledge. Some of our own could do the same too. Taxi drivers in Dublin (and other irish cities & towns) should have an A-Z knowledge test of their area before applying and be like those in other european cities who have no choice but to know it. As for the criminal element they should be completely removed from the taxi business, both Irish and foreign nationals alike.

leggit

probably my most disliked group of people on this island, they're not dangerous physically but they can be extremely dangerous to your finances if you let them! Most are awful drivers too.

Got brought to a garda station by one before for refusing to pay a €60 fare, talked to the Garda and only had to pay €15 when I explained that he had driven me all over the place, including missing an exit on the M50 twice!

One of the happiest moments of my life!

Turtyturd

Nope...nearly got knocked down by one a while back...dangerous things. Drivers ain't much safer either.

My_left_leg

wasn't there a case of some guy who allegedly butchered a girl in Thailand, his family allegedly bribed officials, he then fled accross the border to Vietnam and is now driving a taxi in Dublin.

Just pray your darling daughter/girl friend/wife never gets a late night lift with that guy!:eek:

Turtyturd

My_left_leg wrote: »

wasn't there a case of some guy who allegedly butchered a girl in Thailand, his family allegedly bribed officials, he then fled accross the border to Vietnam and is now driving a taxi in Dublin.

Just pray your darling daughter/girl friend/wife never gets a late night lift with that guy!:eek:

Ah...a racist thread in disguise...kudos.

TeddyTedson

Of course they're safe. This country is so tame how can anyone seriously be questioning the safety of taxis!?
Nobody should be doubt the safety of something like getting a taxi.
This is like the old thing of people saying drugs dealers put poison in there drugs, why would they want to kill/hurt their customers.

My_left_leg

Paulzx wrote: »

You should of asked him for a handjob. There'd be more chance of it

i would, but he wasn't my type and my g/f would probably have had to move seat.

kirving

Depends what NCAP rating they have :pac:

lemme

My_left_leg wrote: »

wasn't there a case of some guy who allegedly butchered a girl in Thailand, his family allegedly bribed officials, he then fled accross the border to Vietnam and is now driving a taxi in Dublin.

Just pray your darling daughter/girl friend/wife never gets a late night lift with that guy!:eek:

Think you got that arse ways. As far as i remember a dublin taxi driver went to thailand on holidays/to live, butchered a girl he tied up, tried to hop over a few walls to escape but was captured.

his last words to the media were, 'i know whats waiting for me, they're going to chain me to a wall'

i think he's still chained to that wall.

lemme

Turtyturd wrote: »

Ah...a racist thread in disguise...kudos.

how do you figure that?

Fourteen

I've never had a problem with a taxi driver here, but I'm sure there are dodgy ones just like with everything else, good and bad.

cruiser178

My_left_leg wrote: »

I ask this question in light of moves by Minister of State for Public and Commuter Transport Alan Kelly to seek to drive criminality out of the industry.

Personally I've had a few hair raising experiences with Dublin taxis. On one occasion I was assaulted when I asked the driver to stop talking.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0609/1224298641834.html

The nature has gone out of people these days, and by the sound of things brains as well.

Bad Panda

My_left_leg wrote: »

there's been a very big increase in Nigerians into the industry.
most are polite and helpful tbh, but some could do with improving their "knowledge" imo.

1.) Black does not = Nigerian
2.)You're only noticing them now!?? Wake up!

bordsie

I prefer blaxis' as they are more likely to have hip-hop music to listen to on the journey home, rather than listening to some salt of the earth ramblings about "foddeners".

Ray Palmer

Knowing a few taxi men I can assure you that there is a strong criminal element amoung them. The general scamming carried out by the average driver is generally criminal but no more than plasterer or electrician.

It is also an easy cover to explain income that comes from elsewhere.

The problem is I think you could by a plate before and there was no checks on people but now there is a check

token101

Dangerous probably not, but they should all be made to do tests on general tourist landmarks because some haven't a f***ing clue and it's not on when you're paying for a service. I got into a cab about two weeks ago with an Irish guy, asked him to take me to Generator Hostel. He told me flat he had no idea and asked where it was. I said Smithfield Square. He didn't know where that was either and he could try Smithfield but I said no I'd leave it. So I got out and got into the next one, happens to be a Nigerian who said he knew it. He drove around for 30 minutes around Blackhorse and that general area. He hadn't a f***ing clue either and was chancing his arm ringing and stopping people. I eventually got out, meter at 25 quid and handed him 5 quid and said thanks. He pointed to the meter and I said no way there's 5 you can forget the rest! Cops happened to be across the way He started muttering but f*** that. I didn't get to my destination so no way am I paying for him spinning around for half an hour. Then I got into another one with another guy, who was also foreign (Middle Eastern). He'd no idea either, but by pure fluke stopped some tourist who pointed us right.

It's a joke they didn't know where one of the biggest hostel chains in Europe was in the city centre. They should be made do tests of the area before they get the licence, it's not like you have much recourse after the fact is it?

John Doe1

bordsie wrote: »

I prefer blaxis' as they are more likely to have hip-hop music to listen to on the journey home, rather than listening to some salt of the earth ramblings about "foddeners".

Exactly what i was going to say, there is so much racism in this country but we like to pretend we are all so enlightened

Maximus Alexander

bordsie wrote: »

I prefer blaxis' as they are more likely to have hip-hop music to listen to on the journey home, rather than listening to some salt of the earth ramblings about "foddeners".

Plus you can always have a good laugh with the blaxis, generally more cheerful than the auld Irish lads.

bordsie

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Knowing a few taxi men I can assure you that there is a strong criminal element amoung them.

No need for this kind of ignorance, :rolleyes:

shannon_tek

I trust them. I choose wisely. If u don't fit my profile no work for u.. but I always ring for my taxis.

Ray Palmer

bordsie wrote: »

No need for this kind of ignorance, :rolleyes: would you rather them scrounge dole like most of the people on it. i guess claiming the dole is similar to theivery in a way...

It is the absoulte opposite of ignorance it is knowledge. I'd rather everybody obeyed the laws and paid their taxes. Every taxi person I know is scamming one way or another.

Galtee

Ray Palmer wrote: »

It is the absoulte opposite of ignorance it is knowledge. I'd rather everybody obeyed the laws and paid their taxes. Every taxi person I know is scamming one way or another.

Maybe that says more about you and the people you know than taxi drivers in general.

bordsie

You wouldn't see a Blaxi blocking "O'Coddell Streee" during rush hour on a weekday that's for sure.

mikemac1

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Every taxi person I know is scamming one way or another.

No different to landlords so

arybvtcw0eolkf

bordsie wrote: »

You wouldn't see a Blaxi blocking "O'Coddell Streee" during rush hour on a weekday that's for sure.

Try drive up or down it at 2am on a Friday or Saturday night of the week!.

Personally I trust the vast majority of taxi driver's, but damn there are soo many of the bastards in Dublin now - never seen anything like it anywhere in the world.

Ray Palmer

Galtee wrote: »

Maybe that says more about you and the people you know than taxi drivers in general.

Maybe but as some are not who I would call friends and meet them through other people I don't think so. So you claim they generally declare all their income and don't pull any scams?

Ray Palmer

mikemac1 wrote: »

No different to landlords so

How many LL do you actually KNOW?

hardCopy

My_left_leg wrote: »

there's been a very big increase in Nigerians into the industry.
most are polite and helpful tbh, but some could do with improving their "knowledge" imo.

You could say the same about any nationality.

The amount of Dublin based drivers who haven't a clue of anywhere more than a mile from their local rank.

Got one guy last week who had to be directed from Heuston to an apartment block off Patrick Street.

bordsie

Eliezer Ashy Storehouse wrote: »

Try drive up or down it at 2am on a Friday or Saturday night of the week!.

Personally I trust the vast majority of taxi driver's, but damn there are soo many of the bastards in Dublin now - never seen anything like it anywhere in the world.

I mean the time the taxis decided to block the road on purpose that time around 5pm on a thurs and it took 3hours to get home by bus.

StephenHendry

imo they are relatively safe , i haven't had any bad incident involving a taxi before. im one of the lucky ones and not experienced some of what other bad experiences others boardsies have had to put up with. the problem is the industry now is so badly regulated that it is no surprise the amount of illegal plates.

Galtee

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Maybe but as some are not who I would call friends and meet them through other people I don't think so. So you claim they generally declare all their income and don't pull any scams?

Well I'm in the same boat as you. I know a few taxi drivers some personally and some through friends and they declare all of their income and don't pull any scams to the best of my knowledge so...

rich.d.berry

I reckon they're safe enough.

The worst incident I've ever experienced was when a taxi brought a Dutch colleague of mine from Dublin Airport to our office on the Longmile Road. I got 3 phone calls for directions from my colleague, one when the taxi headed the wrong way up the N7 and was going through Rathcoole.

When he eventually got there I went out with the money I'd got from petty cash to pay the taxi driver the "normal" fare (around €40) which would have included a tip. The driver, of African origins, refused to accept the payment and started a song and dance about needing to be paid nearly double. I told him that he was mad if he thought we were going to pay extra because he did not know his way around Dublin. He shouted abuse, played the race card and threatened to phone the police. I told him to go ahead, he then had the cheek to ask to use a phone in reception. I told him to use his own or find a call box.

The whole episode cost us in productivity too because we were waiting to start a meeting and it had taken the idiot over an hour and a half to get the Dutch guy from the airport (normally 30 - 45 minutes).

I later phoned the taxi company to tell them what happened and that we had paid the driver all that we were prepared to pay. No complaints from the taxi company. It sounded like it wasn't the first time it had happened with this particular driver.

Ray Palmer

Galtee wrote: »

Well I'm in the same boat as you. I know a few taxi drivers some personally and some through friends and they declare all of their income and don't pull any scams to the best of my knowledge so...

Did you ever ask them about the scams? Fuel recipts is a common one.

Ask them about the propositioning too?

Galtee

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Did you ever ask them about the scams? Fuel recipts is a common one.

Ask them about the propositioning too?

So taxi drivers that you hardly know decided to inform you of their scams and risk an audit? Either you're trolling or it sounds like they're extracting the urine out of the new boy TBH. :pac: Did they ask you to go to the storeroom for some striped ink too?

markesmith

I'd say a good 50% of taxi drivers in Galway are Nigerian. A couple are from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal

My experience with Nigerian taxi drivers in Galway has not been good. That's not a racist statement, it's just honest. I can expand on it with examples if anyone wants that. Galway's a small town, and they've caused a lot of friction with local taxi drivers.

This is simple fact, and it's not a black-white issue. Couple of Ghanaian drivers I was chatting with are exasperated with a lot of the Nigerian drivers as well.

Just my two cents, haterz gonna hate

uch

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Did you ever ask them about the scams? Fuel recipts is a common one.

Ask them about the propositioning too?

As an Ex taxi driver I'd love to know what these "scams" are, most of the guys I worked were honest hardworking fellas and Girls,

My_left_leg

shocking:eek:

My_left_leg

lemme wrote: »

Think you got that arse ways. As far as i remember a dublin taxi driver went to thailand on holidays/to live, butchered a girl he tied up, tried to hop over a few walls to escape but was captured.

his last words to the media were, 'i know whats waiting for me, they're going to chain me to a wall'

i think he's still chained to that wall.

No you got it arseways my friend.
He name is Denis Leahy, a 40 year old taxi driver from Dublin.
The 24 y/o girl's throat had been slashed, and she had been stabbed about 15 times.
He jumped over that wall alright & escaped. But it seems he was handed over to Thai police (by a local taxi driver. lol) while attempting to cross the border.
However he has bribed his way out of prison (quite common over there), and is now back in Dublin driving his taxis, quite possibly driving young girls home after a night out.
How lovely?

stovelid

Never had any bad trouble with taxi drivers. Only minor stuff. Once a guy trying to charge a large set fare from the city out to the suburbs and once a guy probably pretended not to hear my instruction to go onto the M50 thus putting 6 or 7 quid on the fare.

Both times it actually was African lads but in no way would I stereotype any of the drivers.

On the plus side a driver met me to give me a lost phone and another gave me a lift home when I had lost my money. I guess bad tales are more attractive on the net though.

Too many taxis is still preferable to your night being ruined by fighting over taxis for hours and ending up walking halfway home before you got one.

I know a few taxi drivers as we all probably do. All are decent honest lads.

John Mason

i have a few dodgy dealings with dublin taxis from trying to be take me the long way home

to telling me finglas is the south side, as they are driving across the liffey towards westmoreland street - jumped out of that when it was stopped at lights.

oh, and that creepy man, who didnt want to bring me home, he wanted to bring back into town, that a pretty girl like me shouldnt be going home by myself.

i have been offered drugs, phone numbers - i have had taxi men telling me road racing and where and when they do it. how they need to do a few lines of speed to keep them going at night.

taxis "not hearing" me when i say take this left and the charging more

had a taxi man screaming at me cos i said keep change and it was only 45c

hate using them:mad:

lemme

My_left_leg wrote: »

No you got it arseways my friend.
He name is Denis Leahy, a 40 year old taxi driver from Dublin.

Not arse ways my pal just never knew he got out of prison. you sure about that?