Be safer in your taxi (and tell your friends this too)

Using a taxi is a part of everyday life for many people.

But, for South African women+*, using public transport means navigating a minefield of risks.

News24 reports that TV personality Anele Mdoda posted on X about how an Uber driver had allegedly threatened her after she chose the “no conversation” option in the Uber app. See the story here:

He reportedly told her, “In my country, we would rape you to teach you a lesson”.

She pretended to film an Instagram live video to deter him from doing anything to threaten her safety.

News24 also reported on an attempted kidnapping of Sarah Scott, outside a home in Hyde Park while she was waiting for an Uber.

According to News24, UberSA may be facing potential legal action from another woman, who was among several victims abducted, assaulted, robbed and raped by the so-called ‘Uber gang’, “which is believed to have used one of its members’ status as an Uber driver to trick people seeking a ride into getting into their car”.

How to check your ride is safe

Quote This woman spoke to a traffic officer  * about women+ safety concerns when e-hailing, and learned how to check the taxi you’re about to get into is legitimate. This is crucial because there could be serious safety concerns related to an unregistered driver or a car that has not passed a roadworthiness check.

Three important checks

As a first line of defence, we were advised to check three important details before getting into any public transport vehicle:

1. Does it have two discs on its windscreen?
2. And for e-hailing services like Bolt and Uber, does the make, model and colour of the car correspond with the details of the vehicle sent to you on the app?
3. Does the number plate match the regulations for public transport vehicles in your country, or province? (For example, in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, does the taxi have a number plate with black letters and numbers on a white background?)

“When you order a taxi (like a Bolt or Uber, for instance) on the e-hailing app you’re using, they should provide you with the driver’s name and photo, and the registration number, colour, model and make of the car that’s on its way to you.

“It’s important that when the car arrives,  the information provided about it on the app matches exactly.

“So, if you see on the app it’s a certain numberplate, and the car that picks you up has a different numberplate, that’s a big red flag.”

Sometimes on the app, after you’ve accepted the driver and car info, the e-hailing service may tell you they’re going send a different car. “They may say the original car has gone in for a service.  They’ll ask you if you’re okay with that,” says the traffic officer.  

‘Cancel the ride then and there’

“That’s where some people make a mistake, by agreeing to the change. It could mean that an illegal taxi is coming to pick you up. If you agree to the change of car, you’re giving them permission to change and possibly compromise your safety. It’s not okay. Cancel the ride then and there.”

What could be happening is that legitimate drivers register with the e-hailing service, but then allow other drivers who aren’t registered to share passengers with them. “So, the passenger will get a message saying, for instance, that a white Toyota Corolla is coming to fetch them and it’s being driven by a driver called Joe Bloggs. But when the car arrives, it’s a blue Hyundai and is being driven by Jim Smith. Because these details don’t match, it means this is an illegal driver.”

Why do they do this?

When a driver registers with Bolt and Uber for example, there are fees involved. They also have to register with the local authority. “Some people want to evade paying the fees so they piggyback on the other drivers to do their driving for the day. They’re avoiding the costs.”

Remember, if there’s only one licence disc on their windscreen,  it means the person is not registered as a public transport driver. “It also means the vehicle has not been checked and has not paid the fee to be registered as a public transport vehicle which will allow them to carry passengers.”

If in doubt, get to safety

“Always ask the driver their name. If it doesn’t match the name given on the app, don’t get in the car. Go inside or get to safety straight away. We never know if the illegal driver is a criminal who could rob you of your phone and bag  perhaps, or worse.”

Verify each of these checks before you climb into the car, because once the drive has started, your vulnerability increases. Being in a car with a driver you can’t identify is risky. “If that person wants to take you somewhere you don’t want to go, you can’t jump out of a moving car. There’s nothing you can do.”

In every province, every public transport vehicle must by law have two discs on its windscreen. One is its normal licence disc, and the other one is a roadworthy disc. “You don’t have to inspect them like a traffic officer would, but if you see there are two, and one is marked  ‘licence disc’ and the other ‘roadworthy disc’, that counts for a lot.”

Other safety tips:

Always share your trip with your family or friends.

Also, familiarise yourself with the safety functions in the app, like GPS tracking and in-app emergency buttons to call for help if you need it.

“In addition, make sure when getting into the back of these e-hailing services or vehicles that the child lock is deactivated and you can open the window if you want to.”  (See sidebar below)

Make sure your phone is well-charged so you can call for help if you need it.

Be safety conscious until you are home. Don’t fall asleep in the back of a taxi. Stay alert.

Please share this information widely so others have the knowledge to protect themselves as best they can. 

* The traffic officer has asked not to be named as they are not authorised to speak publicly by their employer.

*Spelling women with a plus sign indicates an inclusivity of different identities around  gender.

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How to make sure the child safety lock is off:

Once the door is open, look for a small lever, button, or slot near the latch. It should be marked with a child safety lock symbol.

Deactivate it by pushing the lever or button to the unlock position. Some may need the car key to do this. Be aware that some cars allow the driver to activate the child safety lock.

You should check the door can unlock from the inside as soon as you get into the car.

Steph Saville