Wherever you are, there are certain etiquettes that you are expected to follow at all times; including the times when you are riding in a taxi cab. So, the next time you find yourself in a taxi cab, make sure you don’t breach these etiquettes. Here is comprehensive list of things you must NEVER do while in a taxi:
Forget to put on your seatbelt
Putting on the seatbelt is the most basic etiquette while riding in, not just a taxi, but any car. But unfortunately, many of us don’t follow this simple protocol. According to the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, more than 65% of passengers don’t belt up in a taxi. If you are among the 65%, it might backfire on you if you ever get in an accident. So, for your own safety, always put on your seat belt, whether you’re in a private car or a taxi.
Squeeze in more people than fits in the cab
A taxi is not a bus, so don’t try to squeeze in half a dozen people into a small taxi. A regular taxi cab can comfortably carry 4 passengers at most, so if you need transportation for more people, you can either hire a bigger taxi, or hire two or more taxi cabs. Piling an uncomfortable number of people inside is not only illegal, but also highly dangerous. Don’t do it.
Open the cab door without looking
Before getting out of a cab (i.e. before opening the cab door), make sure you take a quick peek out the door. Sometimes, taxi passengers tend to accidently hit pedestrians and cyclists with the door while exiting the car. So, look around and make sure you won’t be hitting anyone before you open the cab door.
Annoy your Taxi Driver
Your taxi driver is not your therapist, so don’t annoy him with endless chatter about your life. Just because he is being polite and listening to you doesn’t mean he cares. If you get the feeling that you are annoying him with your babble, you probably are. Be polite and let him set the pace for the conversation. If he wants to talk to you, then he will start the conversation himself.
Ignore your Taxi driver
Conversely, you also should not completely ignore your taxi driver either as that would be terribly rude. Greet them as you get in the car and ask them how they are. You can then choose whether or not to continue the conversation after that depending on your and your cab driver’s mood.
Forget to check the cab before leaving
A lot of people tend to leave their belongings in cabs by accident. It’s a lot easier to do a final check to see if you have all your goods with you than to track down the cab later on and look for your belongings. So, always scan the cab before you leave.
Let the driver choose the route
If you know where you’re going and you know your way round the place, dictate the route you want your cab driver to take. There are a few unscrupulous taxi drivers who will take you through a longer route just to hike up the fair. So, make sure you choose the best route to your destination by yourself. If you don’t know your way around the place, a quick Google search will tell you which way you should go.
Not bring small change.
Even though cab drivers are supposed to have small change, it is not always the case. And you can’t really expect them to have change with them ALL THE TIME. So, unless you want to pay more than you’re supposed to, it’s always a good idea to bring small change with you to pay with whenever you are in a taxi cab.
Forget to get your receipts
After you’ve ridden a taxi and paid the cab fare, you are supposed to get a receipt for the taxi ride, and any legitimate cab company will immediately provide you with one. It is your right to get the receipt and the cab driver’s responsibility to give you one. So, don’t forget to take the receipt before exiting the cab. Not only will it help you keep track of your expenses, in case you lose something in the cab, this receipt will help you track down the cab again and retrieve your goods. Your receipt should have the following information: the driver’s name and ID number, Vehicle tag number, time and date, amount of the fare, and the Commission’s complaint phone number.
Do anything inappropriate in the back seat
The back of the taxi cab is not the place to smoke, drink, throw up or make out with each other. It is inappropriate, disrespectful and will most likely get you kicked out of the cab. Wait for the 20 minutes or so it takes you to reach your destination before you start your shenanigans.
Be a good passenger and make sure you don’t do any of the above 10 things while riding a taxi cab.
