The sad reality for most female users of taxis is that, at some point, more than a fair share have experienced bad drivers, or suffered sexual harassment at the hands of the so-called “professionals” behind the wheel.
It’s one of the key complaints consumers have had in the on-going shift towards ride-sharing competitors like Uber – a company that the taxi industry has been bitterly at odds with in a battle that has seen them attack Uber’s legality, whilst seemingly making few – or no – inroads to addressing the consumer issues that drove the success of Uber’s Australian launch in the first place.
Today, damning footage has emerged showing a cab driver in Melbourne sexually harassing a female passenger.
The Herald Sun posted the footage – unembeddable, sadly, so you’ll have to click through to view – which the passenger began taking after the driver made repeated, unwanted, sexually-motivated comments towards her.
The video shows the driver stating to the passenger “You’re my dream girl,” before asking her “Can I take a picture?” and “Can I touch you just once,” both of which were firmly denied by the clearly intimidated and uncomfortable passenger.
The woman – who asked not to be named – also stated that the driver claimed he was going to “head to the bathroom” after she left the cab, inferring something else entirely inappropriate and wildly gross.
“He then proceeded to tell me that once I left the taxi he would ‘head to the bathroom’ and then placed one of his hands on his crotch and left it there for most of the way.”
The footage was taken by the woman – 21-years-old at the time – in April of 2013, on a trip to Melbourne city from her home in Port Melbourne.
Worse still, the Taxi Services Commission refuses to confirm if the driver in question is still on the road, as they have apparently stated that they cannot publicly name him due to privacy reasons.
“The person I was corresponding with basically said if I go to the police, the taxi commission can do nothing and my complaint would go no further, but if I didn’t go to the police they would look into it.”
So the Taxi Commission can take Uber drivers to court, condone massive strike action, send representatives to airport ranks to illegally ask to see suspected Uber driver’s licenses, but they cannot confirm whether one of their own drivers – one who committed a clear act of sexual harassment – is still on the road or not.
And they wonder why people took to Uber with open arms. Come on.
Photo: Robert Prezioso/Getty Images.
Source: Herald Sun.
