You may not realize it, but you are at risk of danger when you take a taxi ride. You never know if the driver is going to rob you while on your way somewhere. Some steps can be taken to make sure this doesn’t happen and ensure your safety.
Check the car before getting in: Make sure that there isn’t anything hidden inside like weapons or drugs which could pose a threat to both yourself and other passengers during your trip. If there is something suspicious inside, get out of the car and find another one instead. Speak up: If someone tries to assault or attack you while riding as a passenger, speak up loud enough for others around to hear what is going on. This could cause mob mentality and the attacker will likely back down for fear of being caught by a group of people instead of just one. Stay alert: If you have been taking a taxi alone, make sure you stay alert during your entire trip to and from your destination. Make note of all exits so that if something were to happen during your ride, you can quickly get out of the car without feeling trapped or cornered in with nowhere to go.
Warnings When using these tips, be aware that they may not always work and there is nothing “safe” about riding in any vehicle as a passenger, especially when there are drugs or weapons hidden inside the driver’s compartment or somewhere else in the car as this could
Make sure the cab is licensed and has a meter
If you’re in Southampton and looking for a cab, be sure it is licensed by the city council. If not, they might try to charge you an inflated rate or even refuse service entirely. It’s best to ask your hotel if they have a recommended taxi company that will come pick you up at a set price before getting into any cabs on the street. And don’t forget to make sure there is a meter running!
Once you get into the cab, it’s important to communicate with the driver. If you think they are going a longer distance than what you agreed upon, say something about it and don’t pay until your ride is complete. You should also make sure they use the meter and not some other rate system since many drivers will not turn on the meter unless asked again before reaching your destination. Now if for whatever reason you feel like things have gone haywire with them, be vocal about it – including that if necessary you will call a different cab company from your phone or look up another one in an online directory. There should be a city by-law stating that drivers must provide receipts so keep an eye out for it when paying – way
Ask for an ID from the driver to make sure they are who they say they are
It is important to ask for an ID from the taxi driver before getting in. The first step would be to find a safe place and stay there until help arrives. Always make sure you have your keys, phone, purse, or wallet with you when traveling. If someone gets into the backseat of the car without permission do not let them touch anything on your person or get too close to you. If they try to break in any way keep calm and just tell them that if they behave themselves then nothing will happen, but if they don’t then it will be bad for them. your instincts to be polite, always err on the side of caution.
The first step would be to find a safe place and stay there until help arrives. Always make sure you have your keys, phone, purse, or wallet with you when traveling. If someone gets into the backseat of the car without permission do not let them touch anything on your person or get too close to you. If they try to break in any way keep calm and just tell them that if they behave themselves then nothing will happen, but if they don’t then it will be bad for them. Fight your instincts to be polite, always err on the side of caution.
If you feel unsafe
The taxi service in the City of Southampton is not always a safe option. There are many incidents where drivers have sexually harassed passengers or even assaulted them. This is why more and more people are turning to Uber, which has helped make getting around town safer and easier than ever before!
It is recommended that you make a phone call to Uber whenever you are ready to order your ride and also once the service has picked you up. Always record the license plate number of any vehicle that is going to pick you up, so in case they don’t show up or any mishap occurs, help can be called based on this date. Here are some ways by which you can ensure your safety while taking a taxi/Uber:
Check if the driver’s name matches with the one provided by your app/call-in: While booking your cab/Uber always check if the name printed on the card provided by them matches with what has been sent over via text message
Be mindful of your surroundings – if it looks like something might happen, move away and call the police
The first thing you should do when riding a taxi is to make sure that the driver has displayed their license plate number in front of them. This will offer you helpful information about the driver, like where they are from and how long they have been driving. You should also watch for any scratches or dents on the car. The next step would be to check with your local police department if there are any complaints against this cab company before getting into the passenger seat. Calling the cab company that you are using for a pick-up is also a great way to ensure that everything works out properly. It’s important to make sure that you have a number you can call in case of an emergency, should something go wrong.
Talk with your driver and share details about where you are going to travel. This will help them get familiar with the area they are driving and ultimately provide you with more helpful information if anything goes awry. If anything happens on your trip – for example like an accident or an influx of police surrounding your vehicle – it will be easier to negotiate if they recognize where you’re headed and can offer some insight into what is happening around the area as well advise on any related issues.
Avoid using cash so that you can’t be tracked down later on by someone with a lot of money
How many of us are guilty of forgetting to ask for a receipt when paying in cash? When we pay the taxi driver with cash, there is no record or receipt. This means that if anything goes wrong, later on, you have no way to find out who it was from and can’t get your money back. Imagine this: you’ve just spent all day at a festival; you’re tired but still having fun. You decide to hail down a cab so that you don’t have to walk home alone – what’s the worst that could happen? The next morning, after waking up and realizing how much money has been stolen from your bank account, you realize the worst has happened, and not only do you feel violated but also upset because now there is no way for you to get your money back.
If this has happened to you, take heart and know that you are not alone and there are things that you can do now so that it doesn’t happen again in the future. You should always drive with a friend or go in groups because as long as someone else is there, the driver won’t act completely inappropriately.
However, if everything goes to plan but he’s still acting suspiciously, then you need to be extra careful and make sure that when paying him by cash that he gives you a receipt; this will help immensely if something similar does happen in the future. An easy way to do this is to act completely normal – when he asks you your name and address, give him the information he needs; type in all of this information into google and check that it matches up with what you have on your ID. If it does, then hand over the cash and ask for a receipt.
If possible, take photos of the car’s license plate number and send them to yourself via email just in case anything happens
If you are in Southampton, it is important to act responsibly and make sure that the taxi driver doesn’t take advantage of you. If possible, take a photo of the car’s license plate number before entering the vehicle. This way if they try to charge you more than what was agreed upon beforehand, or refuse to give back your money when requested, then there is proof against them. It can also be helpful to have an idea of where you want to go before getting into a taxi. also helps to know how much you want to pay for the ride. Especially if you are going out in the early hours of the morning, a taxi is likely to charge more than its normal fee for traveling at this time. Make sure that you know where you’re going and how much it will cost before getting into a cab. This way there won’t be any surprises on either side later on. If possible, have an idea of approximately how long it will take to get from point A to B in Southampton beforehand as well. The last thing you need is to worry about being overcharged because you know nothing about your journey beforehand. This is a good idea if you are going out at night or early in the morning. Also, never pay your taxi driver while they’re waiting inside their taxi. You need to get outside of the vehicle before paying so that you can check over the money and make sure that everything is correct. If there’s something wrong with how much money they’ve given you then it will be easier for them to fix it before they drive off.