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Taxi cab crashes down

By Marlene Naanes, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | MNaanes@am-ny.com

January 22, 2008

Taxi and livery cab drivers find themselves in fewer serious crashes in recent years, statistics show, but the stereotype of a perilous cab ride lives on among riders.

Between 2003 and 2006, there was a 21 percent decline in New York City taxi- and livery cab-involved accidents with injuries, according to Department of Motor Vehicles data obtained by amNewYork. Of the total 9,736 accidents in 2006 - the last full year statistics are available - 8,146 resulted in injury. The number of deadly accidents remained about the same over the years, with 28 in 2003 and 29 in 2006.

"They're so aggressive, so I wouldn't think they're safe drivers," said Wilfred Rodriguez, 33, a Jamaica resident who averages a couple taxi rides a month. City officials say cab safety inspections three times a year - which helps to prevent accidents caused by faulty vehicles - strict standards for DMV points on their licenses, and an increase in drivers with higher experience account for the reduction in crashes.

"Considering that ridership has only increased over the years - to more than 400 million rides per year - that rate is good news indeed," said Allan Fromberg, spokesman for Taxi and Limousine Commission.

A separate study done by an independent consultant and based on 2004 Motor Vehicle numbers showed that taxi and livery cab crash rates were one-third lower than other vehicles in the city. Motor Vehicles does not assign fault for the accidents.

Raymond Tate, 45, Queens, a cab driver who was in a couple accidents early in his five years on the job said that the majority of cabbies are safe drivers and that the public perception of reckless driving is just a stereotype.

"I don't take it personally," he said of passenger criticisms. "I just keep it moving."

Not every passenger thinks cabs are unsafe, but some say they have weathered aggressive driving.

"They do drive effectively, but it's not pleasant," said Abby Caran, 34, Upper West Side, an occasional cab rider.

Passengers only have themselves to blame for crazy taxi maneuvers when they bark out last minute directions to pull over or make a quick turn, some cabbies said. One attributed some of the aggressive driving to the pressure to make money in a short span of time.

"You only have the car for twelve hours," said Albert Boahene, 35, Bronx, who's driven for seven years and said he has gotten into a couple fender benders. "You have to make enough to pay the car lease, then the fuel, then you have to make some money for yourself."