Public Safety Memo On Taxi Drivers

This memo is in support of the public safety measures you have established for the citizens of Connecticut in regards to domestic violence and gun control. However, there is an immediate need of attention to provide necessary safety measures for taxi drivers, especially in Stamford, CT.

Taxi drivers are in the top ten occupations with the highest homicide rates. On a quite August night of this summer, a Stamford taxi driver was brutally murdered. His body found inside the cab with 15 to 20 stab wounds and was pronounced dead on scene. There are various factors that put this occupation at risk including elements such as handling cash, working alone, operating in high crime areas and working at night.

There are guidelines set by Occupational Safety and Health Administration for taxi companies and its employees; however they are not a standard or regulated in order to create legal obligations. There

Physical controls will produce a barrier between drivers and the threat. One of these barriers can be a screen or bullet resistant glass that is placed between the passenger and the driver. This barrier will prevent injuries, robberies and even death. Another physical control is security cameras to record all activities transpiring inside the vehicle. This will be helpful in identifying passengers and increase the pace of any legal procedure should an assault were to occur. Furthermore, silent alarms and enhanced radio communications with the dispatcher will allow the drivers to request for help in appropriate amount of time. A vehicle tracking device will too serve as an important indirect communication device when a driver is under distress and unable to communicate. Other minor changes such as improved lighting inside the cab to allow the driver to detect passenger activities and latches inside the trunk can also go a long way to ensure driver