Taxi drivers report rise in bad behaviour over holidays

TAXI drivers across the Northern Rivers have reported a rise in bad behaviour during the holiday period, as demand surges over Christmas and New Year.

Incidents have included vomiting, abusive language, physical threats and food and alcohol spills, according to local taxi companies.

Operators say vehicles are kept to a high standard and are urging passengers to show patience and respect during one of the busiest times of the year.

Lismore Taxis, one of the longest-running services in the region, operates 24 hours a day and has a fleet of 24 vehicles, including four maxi cabs.

Office manager Janelle Smith said most passengers were respectful and that the company welcomed feedback from customers.

“People just need to be a little bit more patient and flexible at this time of year; the team works as fast as they can to get them to their destination safely,” she said.

“We put a lot of emphasis on our drivers being courteous and punctual.

“Sometimes the drivers might ask for money up front if the customer is drunk, abusive or if they’ve had trouble with the person in the past.

“People might take exception to that, but we want our drivers to be safe and as comfortable as possible.”

Customers across the Northern Rivers are being warned to expect longer wait times on New Year’s Eve and are encouraged to plan ahead.

Wait times are expected to be shorter during daylight hours and on other public holiday dates.

Extra cabs will be operating at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport over the coming weeks, while services at Tweed are also expected to be among the busiest in the region.

Apps and online bookings are recommended, allowing customers to set pick-up and return times and track their driver’s location.

Passengers are encouraged to contact taxi companies if plans change, and to note the taxi plate number and report the incident to the relevant department if they experience a problem.