iTaxiworkers, a not for profit organization that fights for the rights of taxi drivers throughout Ontario, is requesting a meeting with Mayor Rob Ford and the chief of police Bill Blair to discuss what can be done to protect cab drivers in Toronto in the wake of increased violence against cab drivers in recent weeks. There have been three attacks on drivers this week alone, the most recent coming Tuesday night when a driver was stabbed by a patron near MacDonald Avenue. Sajid Mughal, president of the iTaxiworkers Association, wants to have a meeting with City Hall in order to discuss tougher legal penalties on those who target cab drivers, and more resources spent to catch the perpetrators of these crimes. They are also calling on City Hall to put more pressure on the federal government to help protect Ontario’s taxi drivers.

Interestingly, city councillors are actually looking into passing legislation that would require cab drivers submit a criminal background check every year instead of once every four years, in order to protect passengers from cab drivers who have committed crimes or are otherwise dangerous drivers. This move came about after a Toronto Star report in February found that drivers who had committed assaults (physical and sexual) on passengers, drove drunk, and threatened fares did not lose their jobs because the city had no idea any crimes had been committed since under current rules, criminal background checks on cab drivers are only required every four years. A Licensing and Standards Committee meeting was held on Tuesday in order to discuss this matter, and most councillors seem to be favour of increasing criminal record checks. They’re also looking to review what sorts of offenses should result in a license being revoked.

Stats Canada reports that driving a cab is one of the most dangerous professions in Canada, and drivers are twice as likely to be victims of homicide while on the job than police officers. A survey by iTaxiworkers of their members found that 70% report having felt they were in physical danger while working, 85% experienced a verbal assault, and over 50% experienced a physical assault. But as city councillors and the Star report suggest, the threat to passenger safety is a problem as well.

[via newswire.ca, The Toronto Star]

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Megan Patterson is the Science and Technology Editor at Paper Droids and currently a Toronto Standard intern. She also tweets more than is healthy or wise. 

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