The driver who picked me up from home this morning appeared to be at first efficient and courteous. I settled in for the 30 minute ride to the city. Then I made the mistake of asking for the radio to be tuned to ABC Radio National. After 10 minuites the driver slammed the radio button and turned off the radio - "this is crap and I won't listen to it". I protested, and pointed out that I was listening to it and could he please turn it back on.
(I think the item he objected to was Fran Kelly interviewing someone about asylum seekers.)
"No I will not - this is my taxi and I will decide if the radio is on or off - it's in my control". His attitude became assertive and then downright belligerent. We rode the rest of the way in silence. I sat there weighing my options.Was he right? Was that the rule? It had never happened before, and I was simply dumbfounded by his anger and his abrupt manner.
I could argue with him in traffic I thought, but this was not a good idea. As he became more aggresive he drove faster. He used the brake hard, and then accelerated like a madman down the transit lane.
I thought, "Don't stress; I'll take his number and phone a complaint to the taxi people once we get to the city".
Then my mind went into overdrive as I thought through the consequences of that action:
1. I register a complaint with the taxi authorities
2, They investigate and have to reveal my trip details to the driver to verify the complaint (natural justice - no anonymous complaints)
3 He then knows where I live (he picked me up from home), while I know nothing about him other than his driver's number. I am not entitled to obtain any details about him other than his license number (not an authorised person under the taxi regulations)
4.He is disciplined by his company (maybe), then he gets really annoyed and comes to my home to remonstrate with me or worse - it could get nasty - do I want to take the risk?
5. Therefore, I decided, I'll go quietly into my office and do nothing.
Except write this blog!
It dawned on me today - in my taxi with this rude and angry man - that we are all at the mercy of those who work in public transport - taxi drivers, bus drivers, train drivers, pilots, ships' officers. We literally have to trust them with our lives. In return we should at least expect civilty and mutual respect. Or am I being optimistic?
Publishing a few rules or a producing a code of conduct on a sticker in the windscreen of a taxi doesn't do it for me. I didn't think that pointing out the code sticker to my driver this morning would fix the situation.
The world runs on reciprocity, not rules. Mutual obligation makes for civilised behaviour, not rules and written codes stuck on a windscreen. Faced with a complete negation of the sense of mutual respect through a small action - like refusing a passenger the right to listen to the car radio, one is left helpless and frustrated. Captive to the public transport driver.
Frankly, it reminds me why I drive my own car most places. At least then I can listen to my car radio.
Postscript: Please don't remind me that by doing nothing I may be inflcting this maniac on other passengers. I know that, and I want to apologise in advance if you are his next victim. My advice is to treat him like the old riddle:
Question: What radio station does a 300KG gorilla listen to in a bar?
Answer: Any one he wants.