Woman raped after getting in a black cab in Manchester

thriftymanc

What gets me is that you prebook a taxi so you know you're getting a proper taxi with a record of you booking it - and it turns up, you ask who it's for, and the taxi driver says "no, you tell me your name so I know if I'm here to collect you". Erm? It doesn't work that way! The taxi driver is supposed to give my name so that I know they've come from the firm that I rang (if I tell them my name they could be any old perve saying "yeah sure that's who I'm here for"). It drives me crazy the number of taxi drivers who don't seem to grasp this concept. When they do this, I'd make them wait while I ring the number back and ask for the registration plate of the car that was sent for me. Some of the drivers get rude and drive off, which just makes me think they're either incredibly stupid or were definitely trying it on and I had a lucky escape. I don't use taxis anymore because I can't be bothered with the hassle.

brettcta

bosseyed wrote: »

You'd end up snapping photos of everyone you come across -

i take photos of everyone i come across.

my mates wouldn't believe me otherwise

paulsad

Use a taxi firm with ringback - or get a relative to pick you up if at all poss.
You can't be too careful; my OH on her last xmas works do was so drunk she even asked if it was me driving after she'd got in our own car!
Needless to say I always go and pick her up - I can't sleep anyway till she's safely home - sound a right wuss don't I!

hellofreebies

i think it makes a lot of sense what the op said about taking pic of driver...not everytime you plan to go home on your own...its usually something you hadnt planned or anticipated else it would be pre-booked. i would nt say i want a pic of him...but would suggest taking a pic of his taxi badge which should also show his pic for you to id him. if he is a honest taxi guy he would totally understand you being cautious as your travelling alone...
how ever ridiculous you all may think..i think it very effective.

its not like you really have to send a pic...just pretend you did...that way he knows someonelse is totally aware of your whereabouts!!

clever_username

hellofreebies wrote: »

how ever ridiculous you all may think..i think it very effective.

It isn't though. It's verging on the ridiculous...

hellofreebies

i would probably quote to a rapist i was hiv and for him to reconsider what he is doing for his family's sake...

picasso2

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Ive just hunted on the bbc for the story and cant find anything on there.. can you link me please?

Its stil a massive over reaction though.

Can't get you the link myself , the story came through on a work email to me a couple of weeks ago. Didn't take a huge amount of notice myself as it came in the same format a lot of these 'lets send you in a total panic ' spammy emails that come through. Over the past year I can quickly recall :

Don't stop when someone offers to let you smell a new perfume - it is Ether and they will render you unconcious and rob you blind.

Dont stop your car when you see a baby carrier with blanket at the side of the road - when you get out they will steal your car.

Don't ring the parcel delivary company that have left a 'while you were out ' card - they are nigerian scammers and will ring up a huge phone bill.

and I live in a relatively low crime area and none of this has ever been in the news which i might have expected.

Call me cynical but common sense should prevail, we cannot live our lives in fear or we will go nuts.

hellofreebies

i bet its all the blokes who say we're over reacting..!! nothing wrong with making simple precautions so one can play safer

picasso2

Thriftymanc I'm not a taxi conniseur but I know round here if you live in a busy area they want to make sure your not jumping the que , if your neighbours have also prebooked a taxi you wouldn't be too impressed if the taxi driver said your name and then they said it was them and jumped in.

Just to add , in my area all licensed private hire cars have to have a large picture on the passenger side of their car with their company name and their liscence number on it. You cannot miss even when blind drunk that you are getting in an authorised car.

Other than that might i suggest that we all remember to look up when stepping out of a building in case a large piano is hurtling down as per nespresso ad.

picasso2

hellofreebies wrote: »

i bet its all the blokes who say we're over reacting..!! nothing wrong with making simple precautions so one can play safer

I'm all woman. Theres nothing wrong in taking simple precautions and using common sense. If my therapist thought I was taking photos of everyone I come across in life that Don't come with references he would have me in The 'Big House' before you could say Jack Flash. I will not live my life in fear .