(What follows is quite a long story, and contains four letter words in
abundance, but I just had to share what happened the night before last
(Weds 25th October). Please also note that what I'm describing here is
not the actions of some dodgy minicab driver from a backstreet cab
office, but of one of London's supposedly professional Black Cab taxi
drivers. Another warning about the language that follows; every word
is true, but if you're at all likely to be offended, don't read on.)

The story starts at about midnight, when my girlfriend and I get into
this cab in the centre of town. I give the destination as "Road B,
just off Road A" (where Road B is pretty small and nondescript, but
Road A is a fairly major road in the area which most cabbies will
know). The driver then asks "Is it down past the Arndale Centre?" to
which I reply "Yes", because you do indeed go past the Arndale before
turning onto Road A a few hundred yards later. However it turns out
that what he meant was "is Road A literally alongside the Arndale", not
simply past it and then on a bit. With this misunderstanding in place,
but as yet unknown to any of us, we set off.

istrebityel wrote:

You should have reported him. Cabs are there to get you home safely when
you're been drinking. There's little point to this story otherwise.

E.

istrebityel wrote:

[snip]

Please do report him (assuming you did actually note his licence number
or the vehicle reg). He is a disgrace to the taxi trade, and the more
people who report incidents like that, the more likely it is that the
PCO will realise what's going on, even if in some cases the passengers
are not squeaky clean.

Are there in fact *any* circumstances where a cabbie is allowed to lock
the passengers in?

On Fri, 27 Oct 2006, istrebityel wrote:

Did you take his number? If so, please do get onto the public carriage
office about this. The guy's a nutter, and shouldn't be driving a cab.

He'd have to spin it pretty bloody hard to make it sound like he was being
anything other than grossly unprofessional.

tom

istrebityel wrote:

Reading through that account, I could feel the fear/intimidation/anger
you must have felt. I mean, locking the doors! You should have taken
his number and reported it, but I know its not so easy to make that
decision at the time. One thing I was thinking would have been
effective would be to discretely phone 999 while he was shouting, but
hey the moment's passed now. I just hope your girl doesn't take it all
to heart, which is easy to do.

A little off topic, but just as indicative of the way the world's going
to pot, just the other day I dropped my mrs off to work near Tesco at
8.45am, and thought I'd pop in there on my way home for some odd food
bits and an Xbox game, which of course comes in a plastic security
case.

istrebityel wrote:

...

...

Thanks for all supportive replies -- regarding getting his number,
while things were kicking off in the cab, I never had the presence of
mind to memorise the driver details (kicking myself even now, though...

On 27 Oct 2006 08:29:14 -0700, "istrebityel" hotmail.co.uk>
wrote:

[snip]

Nothing about your experience is acceptable practice for people
responsible for safe conduct of a vehicle, the safety of their
passengers or provision of a public transport service.

ashinmaracaibo@gmail.com wrote:

Taxi doors lock automatically when the vehicle is moving or the footbrake is
on. The driver cannot lock passengers in in any other way. As soon as the
driver tried to climb out of his seat, the release of his footbrake would
unlock the doors. So unless they are disabled, or he has a gun, passengers
should not fear a driver who locks them in.

It sounds to me like the guy is possibly going through a messy divorce. Or
maybe he's just nuts. The Public Carriage Office can decide if he needs a
temporary break or a change of career, but they can only do that if he is
reported to them.

In message text.news.blueyonder.co.uk>, Richard J.
blueukder.co.yon> wrote:

Citizen's Arrest?

istrebityel wrote:

.snip long story.

If you have a camera phone then always get it out and film them being
cunts - works a charm