Taxi assault surge across Australia sparks new safety calls

Assaults on taxi drivers have risen dramatically in Australia’s largest cities, exclusive new figures reveal.

Exclusive: Assaults on taxi drivers have risen dramatically in Australia’s largest cities, exclusive new figures reveal.

Shocking incidents involving Australia’s largest taxi company, 13cabs, include drivers being threatened with a machete, bashed in the face with bottles, and chased from their vehicles and beaten by out of control passengers.

A Victorian driver was struck six times on the back of the head by a passenger on Tuesday after Melbourne Cup celebrations.

The problem is so bad driver assaults now outnumber car accidents in many parts of the country.

13cabs chief operating officer Olivia Barry. Picture: Supplied/Marcel Aucar

Between January and August this year there were 381 incidents in Melbourne, up from 319 in the same period last year, 233 incidents in Sydney, up from 170, and 192 incidents in Brisbane, up from 119.

Adelaide had 58 incidents, up from 39, Newcastle 49 incidents, up from 24, while the Gold Coast had 43 incidents, up from 24.

13cabs chief operating officer Olivia Barry said the intensity of attacks was also increasing.

“You can see from the figures it’s getting more frequent and we are alarmed. This escalation of more aggressive behaviour, more physical assaults – it’s getting worse every weekend. Literally every weekend,” Ms Barry said.

Taxi driver Ryan Eido recovering in Dandenong Hospital. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The company wasn’t sure if the cost of living crisis was fuelling the rise in violence, but the trend has also been noted in the retail sector, where staff are coming face-to-face with aggressive customers.

“I think there’s a tendency for the customer to become aggressive, quickly, [and that’s] something new that we’re seeing right across that service industry. Whether it was born out of Covid … I don’t have all the answers, but I think we do need to bring attention to that fact. It’s troubling.”

Ms Barry said she once drove a taxi herself to see what the drivers experienced every day – and she had to abandon her vehicle for her own safety.

“I found myself in a situation where I had to stop, get out of the car myself and leave people in it, because I actually felt so threatened,” she said.

The danger faced by drivers has led 13cabs to launch a safety campaign which will see some taxis in each state with specially designed dome lights, displaying the words “brother”, “sister”, “son”, “dad” and” friend”, instead of the company name.

Taxi driver Ryan Eido, who was attacked and badly injured by a passenger this year, still has trouble with his hand and arm. 13 Cabs plans to make taxis safer. Picture: Ian Currie

Some 13cabs vehicles will also feature the sticker #MoreThanJustADriver on the back bumper bar.

“We want passengers to know the person who is driving them is not there to be abused. It is just not on.

“They are all someone’s mother or father, or brother or friend, and some of the most amazing people, supporting and helping their communities. Abuse is never OK,” Ms Barry said.

Taxi driver Ryan Eido is still unable to work after being attacked in July.

He was about to go home early one morning after his final job when a passenger got inside. Mr Eido said he normally had the doors locked, but on this night he didn’t.

The passenger wanted to be taken to a shopping centre that was closed, and Mr Eido refused.

“And that’s when he launched at me,” he said.

Melbourne-based Mr Eido is no longer in daily pain, but still has trouble with an injured hand and arm.

“Since then I have lost so much money – I haven’t made anything.”