By JASON TURNER
A SERIOUS brawl involving a vicious attack on a taxi driver in central Dandenong has reignited concerns about driver safety.
Early on February 2, a passenger attacked a taxi driver outside the Shoop nightclub on Langhorne Street over a fare dispute. It sparked an all-in fight, resulting in two men being charged.
The driver — who did not wish to be named — said the incident was his worst experience of customer abuse.
“It’s probably the third time, other times we just keep the doors shut and avoid it,” he said.
“But for a $20 fare you don’t expect this. This one was the worst.”
The driver said a group of three wanted to be taken to Hampton Park, but the man who had got into the front seat refused an offer to be taken to a nearby ATM to get money out for the fare.
“I just leant over to close a door left open by [his] friend and then he punched me on the face,” he said. “I think he punched me three or four times.”
After being pushed to the ground, another six drivers waiting nearby came to their colleague’s aid and the other two passengers also got involved. The men also started to smash the driver’s vehicle.
He said he could not remember everything because he felt “traumatised”. He suffered a hairline fracture of a finger, a black eye and extensive bruising.
He believed such incidents were getting worse. “Some people don’t have the patience, they don’t have anyone to pick them up at that time. And we’re just doing our job.”
Last December, the Victorian Taxi Directorate released figures that revealed an increase in the number of offences against drivers, with 401 offences from October 2011 to September 2012.
Dandenong Taxis manager Paul Smith said the issue was a major talking point in the industry.
“Over the years, it is getting worse,” Mr Smith said. “I’ve experienced it myself.” A former taxi driver, he said many drivers did not want to trouble police by reporting incidents.
The driver involved in last week’s attack agreed, adding he felt police understood the nature of the occupation but could not guarantee to protect them.
He was pessimistic about the problem being solved. “It’s not going to change because they can’t stop drinking. They can’t stop people going out and stop fighting.”
Anyone with information on the Langhorne Street incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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