Crackdown On Cell Phone Cabbies Coming

nydailynews.com:

The Taxi and Limousine Commission will unveil tough new proposals Friday to crack down on chatty cabbies who yak on their mobile phones while driving.

Read the whole story: nydailynews.com

Comments

[lilnyc]

On 2nd thought...I retract my earlier post. I experienced two things today that made me rethink my position on cab drivers and their cell phone use. The issue is basic -- customer service. When engaged in personal activities, people who should serve customers instead treat the patrons as if they are breaking up a party.

When you walk into a store and employees are chatting with one another, have you ever sensed that you were breaking up their party after having one of them snap at you, "Yes? May I help you." Today at the hair salon, the people behind the counter were watching a movie, and seemed annoyed that I wanted something. Never once did they offer to put away my coat, ask how the service was...nothing. Later at the grocery store, the cashier was busy reading the paper. He hurredly overstuffed one bag full of all of my groceries, then continued reading. I repacked the groceries. How dare I interrupt his reading?

[StarDagger]

I just got back from europe, there are laws, very strict ones, about using cell phones in cars.
I was a bit disconcerted when the cab driver was yakking on his phone, dangerous and stupid.

[lilnyc]

I don't mind their talking on the phone as long as they're using a handsfree phone and are paying attention to the destination. However, if they are restricted, welcome to the world of employment. Many employees are restricted to making personal calls on breaks and outside of work hours.

[ominous]

'Bout time!

[JamieNYC]

part 2 of 2 (continued from previous post)

...But its important to make the point that there are still some fantastic Cabbies out their.

Sadly, while back in the day you could call you're favorite yellow cab service for a pick-up, the radio groups were disbanded by the incompetent and incoherent TLC, and today's cultureless free-for-all has ensued.

Meanwhile, the TLC sits on its ass and does nothing to encourage its workforce to have some spirit. Whoa is the lonely Cabbie who takes care of his cab, upgrades his hubcaps and keeps a clean interior and soft suspension. Now we're force fed ABC Eyewitness News on loud flat-panel monitors with greasy touch-screens and credit-card swiping machines that take 5% off the top of every Cabbie's fare. No wonder they always try to say the machines are broken.

At least they got rid of those obnoxiously loud celebrity "buckle-up" messages.

The Lincoln Town Cars are watching...

[ominous]

True.

[JamieNYC]

Back in the day, when you got into a cab [almost] every driver asked you where your destination was to be.

Today, most fleet drivers are so frustrated with how little the make that they take refuge in the only thing left to them - they plug in their hands free ear pieces and chat on their cell phone with family, friends and each other all-day-long.

They don't have to worry about minutes because as long as you call within the Verizon or AT&T wireless networks the calls are free. And call they do.

They don't pay attention to where the customers want to go. They too often don't even know their way around the five boroughs, and sadly (with the exception of Midtown) way too many of them keep their doors locked and their off-duty signs on - asking their customers where they're headed before letting them into the cab (which is completely illegal) - instead of giving service with a smile. The other old trick of the fleet drivers is to honk at people on quieter streets to get their attention (also illegal) - when they're hungry for a fare.

part 1 of 2 (see next post)

[Darcman]

Yeah! Those cab drivers are just so evil!