Shouldn't cab drivers be paid in advance, at least an amount to cover the fare?

Question

When you think about it, any other form of public transport that you take, i.e. bus, train, plane, boat, ferry etc is paid for by ticket prior to the service being carried out.
These days, so many people try to abscond without paying the fare that taxi drivers, lowly paid to begin with, are too often victims.

As a cabbie, working nights, I know that many of my fellow drivers are ready to drive off (either forward or reverse) to prevent a fare evader getting away. Often, passengers get out of the vehicle and try to get their wallet out of a back pocket to pay the fare. If they only knew that the cabbie is poised to move the vehicle quickly to prevent a fare evasion and that they could quite easily be killed or injured if they made the wrong move...would they get out before paying?

Wouldn't it be easier and safer to pay an amount in advance to roughly cover the cost of the trip...and then settle at the end of the journey?

Answer 1

Is there a law against asking for a deposit for that amount? Or is it simply that if you did, they probably would NOT add a tip, and frankly, the tip is pure profit, and so worth your consideration.

Answer 2

No, why would you pay for goods or services until you have recieved them in full. I'm afraid that is just one of the perils of your job. When you all get the new security required at least you will have a name and picture of the passenger to work with.

Answer 3

no i have bad experiences everytime i get a cab most cant speak English and dont know where they are going they always take the longest route possible i try to avoid cabs at all cost and i never give a tip

Answer 4

THEY should.BUT most cases they dont get it till the end of the fare.

Answer 5

Yeh I would. If you have nothing to hide, then it should bother you. If you dont intend to run off whats the problem???