I agree that the cab driver should have picked up the blind passenger (and his guide dog). Also, people who are otherwise disabled or suffer illnesses whose symptoms resemble inebriation often suffer similar discrimination. While I sympathise, it is always prudent to consider both sides of every story.

Some may not be aware that the usual method of remunerating cab drivers is straight commission. So, if a dog stinks up the cab, or some drunk vomits all over the place etc ......the poor cab driver usually has to return to base and clean up the mess. While doing so, he is unpaid and unable to earn income until his vehicle is clean, sweet-smelling and back on the road. If I were driving a cab and was flagged down by someone with a dog.....or someone who appeared drunk. I would be reluctant to put myself in a position of possibly losing a couple of hours earnings.

We are all very conscious of how tough things are, so just spare a thought for the struggling cab driver who is also trying to keep his head above water. Now, the "armchair critics" will say...."its a public conveyance, its his job.....he HAS to pick them up".....and I will agree....when a system is introduced to compensate the driver for his "downtime".

Not a great user of Taxis, but on a visit to Adelaide about 5 years ago I took my aged sister-in-law out to lunch at Glenelg. Returning to the nursing home, what with getting her and her wheel chair out of the cab I left a bag on the back seat containing, among other items, a brand new digital camera and some old family photos, (irreplaceable). Phoned the Police and every cab company in Adelaide with no luck. Returned next day to nursing home to say goodbye to her and just as I was about to go she casually mentioned that the cab driver had dropped my bag off to her the previous late afternoon, everything intact.

Just might restore your faith in cab drivers, just a little, B Frank.

I understand that quite a few Mulims drive cabs these days and dogs are abhorent to them and this may be the reason why this Adelaide fellow had so much trouble

If I were driving a cab and was flagged down by someone with a dog.....or someone who appeared drunk. I would be reluctant to put myself in a position of possibly losing a couple of hours earnings.



Yes I am aware of what you say Kfchugo, but with respect, I think blind Freddy (pun intended) could spot the difference between someone with a garden variety pooch and someone wearing dark glasses holding a special guidance harness attached to a well trained Labrador seeing eye dog.



I cant say I would like to drive a cab (and clean up vomit) plus being at risk of being robbed by some lowlife. I think taxi companies are so desperate to get drivers they have greatly reduced the course and lowered their standards, which possibly explains why drivers dont know their way around OR the rules they are employed under.



So I guess it all comes down to the type of person willing to be a driver and perhaps their total lack of sensitivity and education, or worse still the lazy attitude by Suburban Taxi Company in not informing ALL drivers of the regulations.



No response on women being molested, sexually assaulted and raped?

As a West Australian taxi driver for 16 years I hae experienced most of the mentioned situations and as the Transport Ministers representative on the taxi control board was privvy to many of the complaints you have all mentioned, Rape Excluded. That in my time never occured or at least never surfaced. However the rules for carrying a guide dog is firmly laid out nationwide Im sure. A driver would be very severely dealt with if he/she refused to take a guide dog. Drunks are a different matter, I have cleaned up vomit mainly from young girls, very rarely drunk men. They are usually abusive if thats the way they are. I never refused to take a young girl affected by drink simply in case she fell victim to the wrong person. I have a daughter of my own and always hoped if need be someone would assist her if she needed it. Fortunately she didnt drink booze but one never knows when they may need help. Taxi drivers usually are like everyone else, there are good and bad, the compassionate and the money hungry. But it is an awful job when things go wrong, runners that dont pay, arguments that are orchestrated to make an excuse not to pay. I can list a zillion situations but in my sixteen years of driving I enjoyed it I met wonderful people and helped a lot of folk that needed that little extra assistance. It can be a very rewarding job and like eeverything else you take the rough with the smooth and my blind customers were a delight to transport and their dogs were equally friendly and responsive to me as a friend. I would never have driven past a blind person and guide dog waiting for a cab and when I read of cabbies that do it makes my blood curl.