Taxi driver sacked after vile behaviour called out by Ali Clarke
The cabbie called out by Ali Clarke on Instagram has been investigated by his employer 13cabs and lost his job. Here’s all we know.
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The cabbie who refused a fare from media personality Ali Clarke and went on to launch an X-rated tirade at her has lost his job.
“The driver involved in this incident has been removed from our network,” a 13cabs spokesman told The Sunday Mail in a statement, which also said. “We have spoken with Ms Clarke directly and provided video footage of the incident to the South Australian regulator, responsible for handling such matters.”
The statement said 13cabs did not tolerate driver behaviour “which does not meet our strict standard of conduct”.
“Passenger safety is our highest priority, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of service and professionalism for all our passengers,” it said.
Clarke was leaving the casino about 1.30am on Friday following The Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman Of The Year function when she tried to get a taxi from a rank on North Terrace.
She jumped in a cab and gave her home address but was told by the driver that the fare was too short and to get out, despite her offering a tip.
Clarke said the cabbie told her to find another taxi, claiming he had been waiting outside the casino for 40 minutes.
“He said, ‘you need to get out, your p---y smells’,” Clarke said through tears when she took to Instagram on Friday to call out the taxi driver’s behaviour.
In the video Clarke posted, she said the abuse continued even after she got out of the cab.
“I think I’m pretty tough, but it was just that vile sexual nature of it,” Clarke said. “I thought we were better than that.”
With assistance from casino security, who found another taxi driver who would accept her fare, Clarke made it home.
She also told The Sunday Mail she did not believe the first cabbie would have behaved the way he did had she been travelling with a man. Her husband, Matt Clarke, who had attended the awards ceremony with her, had gone home earlier in the evening.
On Friday, the Taxi Council South Australia condemned the incident and said it was considered illegal for cabbies to refuse short fares.
The Sunday Mail contacted Clarke following the cabbie’s sacking.
While she declined to comment she directed us to her Instagram account where she made the following statement: “Thank you @13cabs and a reminder that not all cab drivers are like this. Thank you to everyone who has reached out, and to those who’ve shared your similar stories, I’m sorry. Whilst I take no joy from anyone losing their job - especially if others depend on that wage - I am glad action has been taken so that maybe the next time something like this happens, others feel like they can speak up. And we should. It shouldn’t take me being an ex-radio person for this to become a discussion. X”
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