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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

How to travel safely by Taxis in India?

In any city/ town in India, there are private taxis for convenient travelling but most of them are not organized (like a company running them) and individually owned. This sometimes can become a safety hazard and there are ways to ensure safety.

Unless and until it is absolutely necessary and you know the surroundings, avoid using private taxis in the nights.

Never travel by a taxi in inebriated state.

Ensure that the driver understand your instructions well. Many people can understand (if not speak) English and make sure that your driver knows exactly where you want to go.

Do your homework beforehand. Find out from others (like family and friends) how much is the expected fare between the desired destinations. If there’s a prepaid taxi service available, use it liberally.

Ensure that taxi has enough gas. Sometimes taxi drivers can ask you for money in advance to fill gas and you must politely refuse and pay only at the end of your journey.

Ensure to have your mobile phone working in India (global access). Write down the taxi license plate number and the driver’s name and call to pass them to your friend in advance. This alerts the taxi driver that he is been monitored.

Do not be overly friendly with the taxi driver. Do not give too much information about your visit to India than he should know (like itinerary). Never accept anything to eat or drink including cigarettes and chewing gums.

In case of conflict, always appear calm and composed.

If a hotel has a transportation service, use it liberally even if you have to pay for it.

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