Fatal Crash Highlights Dark Side of Taxi Business

Steven Schwankert | Aug 25, 2014 3:00 pm | 6 comments | 4826 reads

Three people were killed Sunday morning at 6am when a Beijing taxi veered off the Third Ring Road and struck a tree, China Daily reported. The accident highlights the conditions under which the drivers work and the hazards of taxi transport in the capital.

Beijing transport officials declined to speculate on the cause of the crash, although the English-language daily didn't, suggesting that driver fatigue may have been the cause. Shifts of ten to 12 hours are not uncommon, with some drivers working double shifts of up to 24 hours, with one or no days off per week.

The average driver pays their cab company RMB 5,175 per month, and takes home a little over RMB 4,600 after expenses.

However, while many are sympathetic ot the drivers' long hours, they continue to generate public enmity for not picking up passengers hailing cabs on the roadside, poor knowledge of roads and locations, and poor hygiene. While the recent taxi fare increase of flag fall from RMB 10 to RMB 13 for the first four kilometers of a ride provided a brief uptick in improved taxi service, service has now returned to pre-rise levels of apathy and even antipathy.

The advent of taxi-booking apps, especially Didi Dache, has also changed the driver-rider relationship, giving drivers a choice of nearby fares to select, rather than gambling on the person on the street.

Photo: China Daily

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Steven Schwankert's picture Steven Schwankert Submitted by Guest on Wed, 08/27/2014 - 09:13

@Mtnerror,

You make a good point about seat belt use in taxis. Although I normally sit in the back (it reduces conversation with the driver), during the summer when it's cooler in the front, often the driver seems upset when I put the belt on. I humor him (it's almost always him) by saying, "I know you're a good driver, it's the other guy I worry about!"

@Brooklynnative,

Agreed. From the photo, it's difficult to see why it was so serious, but without other photos or knowing how fast they were traveling or why the crash occurred, hard to say why it claimed three lives.

 

mtnerror's picture mtnerror Submitted by Guest on Tue, 08/26/2014 - 12:17

Thousands of taxi rides are safely completed each day. Fatalaties occur when drivers are well rested, too. And because the original China Daily article doesn't state whether the driver was suffering from fatigue or not, it's pure speculation. It's entirely possible this driver was properly rested, or the accident was not the fault of his own. Maybe the fault was that of the passengers, eh? Designated Drinker is right...it's unlikely the driver or passengers were wearing safety belts. If they had been, from the looks of this accident, I would be very surprised if any deaths would have resulted. It's a reminder to BUCKLE UP!

@author: first 4 km? Thought it was first 3 km...

Brooklynnative's picture Brooklynnative Submitted by Guest on Tue, 08/26/2014 - 10:44

Looking at the accident I'm really surprised three people died. I would have thought some serious injuries, maybe the front passenger dies, but three people - were they all in the taxi? Do they have airbags? If the taxi had airbags I cannot understand how that kind of damage results in three fatalities. Terrible tragedy.

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Tue, 08/26/2014 - 10:15

I've been in cabs driven by sleepy drivers twice out of the last 5 or so times I've taken a cab ... passengers should be well aware of the alertness of their driver, for their own safety
 

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Kareena's picture Kareena Submitted by Guest on Mon, 08/25/2014 - 17:50

Anywhere in the world, taxi drivers are the most dangerous drivers.... For a Beijing people, I think the salary of 4600 rmb is low, but not as low as to cannot live for one person, but if they have family is not enough. Anyway, for this, they should not up the price , because it is already expensive than the other cities and they are not paid at commission ....

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