City taxis unsafe for women
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The frequency of rape cases and sexual attacks by taxi-drivers against their female passengers are alarming.
The latest case, as reported, took place in a city soi by a driver who had committed similar offences and was released from prison not long ago.
Like many other parents, we have not exaggerated the danger when we remind our girls constantly not to take a taxi alone in this city.
Other Asian cities such as Hong Kong or Singapore have strict controls on taxi license plates as well as driver’s licenses, and taxis are a safe public transport. But in Bangkok it is easy for anyone to walk into a taxi garage and drive away with a taxi without questions being asked.
It appears that the Transport Department is finally getting tough on issuing licenses for taxi-drivers. But without proper law enforcement on those taxi-owners who recklessly rent out their vehicles and police check points to ensure that taxi-drivers do possess a proper license, we have to continue remind our girls not to take any chances by taking a taxi alone in the city.
Yingwai Suchaovanich
Bangkok
