Combating

Combating taxi crimes

From Kompas

There have been frequent reports on taxi passengers being robbed or even raped, but so far no concrete action has been taken by the authorities or the taxi companies to prevent the recurrence of such crimes.

Apart from material losses, victims of these assaults are also psychologically and mentally harmed. Taxi companies should take great care in recruiting and managing their drivers so that no cabs will be used by unidentified personnel. Allowances should be given to drivers to prevent them from subletting their cars.

The authorized government agency should impose penalties on taxi companies in criminal cases involving their cabs. In this way, they will maintain proper management and give a maximum guarantee to the safety of taxi users.

It is also necessary to require taxi companies to use different colors for their cabs so that each of them will strive for the best customer service and an atmosphere of sound competition is created. So far the color design of favored taxis has been imitated by many others in order to mislead passengers.

Unless the taxi issue is properly handled, how can we expect any improvement in the other means of public transportation? Moreover, how can our tourism be invigorated and competitive? Beware of the taxi "ghosts" now still at large.

MATHILDA B. Jakarta