‘GPS makes cabs safer for women’

Charities that work to eradicate violence and abuse against women are backing the use of GPS/digital dispatch in taxis.

Laurie Shiell, executive director of the Centre Against Abuse, said: “From a public safety perspective, GPS is an excellent tool, especially if someone needs a cab immediately.

“It is always helpful to know how far a taxi is away, especially if you have to run out to meet it.

“And if you are walking home and someone is following you, you can ask someone to pick you up. We are definitely for GPS as a safety instrument.”

Patrice Frith Hayward, executive director of the Women’s Resource Centre, said: “The Women’s Resource Centre supports the use of GPS in taxis, especially when it comes to the safety of women. There are women who sometimes find themselves stranded — for whatever reason — in a desolate area, alone and in need of the services of a taxi.  

“From what we understand, the accountability of the GPS system is very useful in alerting passengers of the ETA of the taxi, and once the taxi has arrived, the system calls the passenger to advise the arrival.  

“Once the passenger is in and out of the taxi, the system registers this as well.  As drivers are alerted to jobs available in their area, this potentially cuts down the wait time, which again, is a safety benefit for a woman who could be waiting alone or otherwise vulnerable.

“Additionally, while we appreciate and respect our taxi driver ambassadors, we encourage women to pay close attention to details when getting into a taxi any time of day, but particularly at night.  

“We stress the importance of taking note of the taxi licence number, the colour of the taxi and the driver’s name. And this doesn’t have to be done discreetly. Make the driver aware that you are doing it. It’s important for women to also contact someone to let them know they are in the taxi and the time they believe they should arrive at the destination, in the event they are dropped off somewhere ‘off the beaten path’.   

“For further safety, we also suggest that, when possible, women alone in a taxi at night should call someone and stay on the phone until they arrive safely at their destination.”