AL-KHOBAR, SAUDI ARABIA – The needs of Public Utility Vehicles are extremely indispensable and important in our everyday routine. Precisely, not all of us can afford to buy a car. I am one of those.
Saudi Arabia has an exemplary reputation concerning infrastructure. Roads are free from gridlock, so we arrive at our destination on time. There were numerous taxi operators in the Kingdom, and their drivers were from an assortment of nationalities.
In my recent visit to Riyadh, couple of months ago, I asked a taxi driver for a ride to Riyadh Kharj Hospital (RKH). I was in front of Pepsi Bottling Plant, about two kilometers away, when I stopped a taxi. Before I embark on the taxi, I inquired from the driver how much he would charge me.
“Khamsat ‘ashar Riyal (fifteen riyal),” he replied.
So off I went to RKH, not realizing, until I got there, that I did not have SAR 15.00 in change. I gave him SAR. 20.00 and I waited for the change inside the taxi for sometime. The driver kept silent pretending that his obligation was over until I uttered for my change.
“Where is the change my friend?” I asked the driver. He stared at me and said, “Mafi, kulo Ishriin riyal (No, the charge is twenty riyal).”
We argued a lot, and it made me nuts. I didn’t argue for the five Riyal change; however, I was fighting for the agreement we had before I rode with him.
A friend of mine confessed that he had similar experience with taxi drivers, but he didn’t take it seriously for health reasons.
We cannot deny that some taxi drivers are egotistical and dim-witted. They have taken their craft for granted. They don’t consider that, without a passenger, they would not exist as a taxi driver. Why are they not using their brains? Why should passengers suffer if they are paying unerringly.
Exasperating Scent
Many drivers have poor hygiene, and their unpleasant body odor penetrates the chemise of their passengers. Consequently, passengers smelled like a dead rat when they disembark the car. To avoid such bad odor, drivers should observe hygiene and taxi operators should monitor hygiene of their drivers regularly. Driver should take a bath and change clothes everyday. Be generous enough to the deodorant manufacturers by purchasing their body spray that keeps us feeling fresh. This is highly recommended as to eliminate body odor. Clean the car and put air freshener regularly. Would it be much nicer that way?
Safety and Sign
I observed many times that taxi drivers (without passengers and looking for customers) are driving fast through the left or fast lane of the highway. When someone stops him for a ride, he immediately crosses from left to the right lane to pick up passenger. Is it correct to use the fast lane when looking for a customer? I don’t think so. I believe that the appropriate way for the taxi is to use the right lane and drive slowly. No-one can afford to stand in the middle of a busy highway for a ride.
I am not certain of the purpose why taxi must have a light at the top of their car. Do taxi drivers understand the purpose of the light at the top of their car? Absolutely not – or, if they do know, they simply ignore it. The light on the top should be ‘ON’ .In my understanding, the light on top of the taxi should be “ON” when the taxi is “for hire” and it should be “OFF” when the taxi is occupied. In other countries, taxis are equipped with a button “Vacant” and “Occupied” that display on top of the taxi. This is very commendable as the riding public can easily identify during the night.
Contrary to the negative assessment of taxi drivers, there were some who are caring and considerate. Some are equipped with air freshener, tissue and even music from different languages to entertain their passengers.
If I am the taxi driver, I will listen to critics because often they are a good source of information for what we have to do differently.
If I had to boil my message down to one sentence, it would be that taxi drivers are responsible for the comfort and safety of their passengers, and passengers are accountable for paying the precise fare.