Far more cabbies being assaulted than reported, says St. John's driver

A taxi driver in St. John's is raising alarms over a recent spate of attacks and robberies against cabbies, saying the problem is much worse than the public thinks. 

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Doug McCarthy, a driver with Jiffy Cabs, said it's becoming increasingly dangerous for those behind the wheel of the city's taxis.

"According to Stats Canada, taxi driving is reported higher than being a police officer," he said.

"It's constantly on the back of your mind. My wife has great concern over my safety as do a lot of significant others nowadays."

McCarthy said while there have been five reported cases of assaults so far this year, there are actually many more instances than that.

"There are more that we know of, that people just don't bother to report," he told CBC News. "They don't consider it to be worth the time and effort that they have to lose from their ability to be able to earn a living."

"They just take it on the chin and try to make up what they've lost."

A changing society

McCarthy said most of the attacks happen on the weekend, when criminals desperate for cash see taxi drivers as easy prey.

"It's an element of society that unfortunately is becoming more and more prevalent in the City of St. John's," he said.

"Drunken individuals, individuals who are either coming down off a high or looking to get on another."

McCarthy said something needs to be done soon to protect drivers in St. John's.

"We as an industry have to come up with a means whereby we can provide our drivers with a safe work environment," he said.

"Without taxis, there would be a lot of people in this city who would not be able to get around."