The Risks of Cab Riding in D. C.

For many D.C. residents, tourists and commuters, the taxicab is the preferred method of transportation. According to the D.C. Taxicab Commission, there are more than 150 different taxicab companies registered in the metropolitan area, with a combined total of more than 6,000 cabs serving the city. With these numbers, D.C. has one of the highest ratios of taxicabs per person in the county. No matter where you turn, a taxicab will probably be there to get you where you need to go.

Although taking a taxi may seem like a great alternative to navigating your own way around our nation’s capital, there are risks associated with your ride in the classic yellow car. Your life, or someone else’s, may be at risk every time a cabbie pulls out into traffic. With taxicab accidents happening on a daily basis, you could be Washington, D.C.’s next accident victim.

Dangerous Cabbies: Not Just A Rumor!

• Overly aggressive drivers speed through traffic, weaving in and out of lanes illegally.
• Cab drivers often cut off other motorists on the road. Depending on the circumstances, this could lead to a serious traffic accident.
• Cab drivers are known to run red lights, make illegal turns, and not stop for pedestrians.
• In recent years, there have been a high number of bike accidents on Pennsylvania Ave. due to taxicab drivers and other motorists making illegal U-turns across bike lanes. This behavior contributes to a significant number of auto and bike accidents in the area.

In 2011, the D.C. Traffic Safety Report stated that there were 2185 total crashes involving taxicabs in the metro area. From these 2100+ accidents, 540 individuals were injured and two people were tragically killed. The question remains: How many of these D.C. taxicab accidents could have been prevented?

If you frequently travel by taxicab, please take the time to research the various companies in the area. Find out which companies have the best safety ratings and which ones have higher accident reports. Before you pull away in a cab, look for the driver’s proper identification information. If it’s not available, it could be a good sign that you need to get out of the cab immediately!

Have any suggestions or recommendations about great cab companies to use? Any warnings from past experiences? Please feel free to comment on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you.