RIDEGURU
Hey, passengers. Have you seen these orange circular lights on taxi cabs? They are usually on the back of the trunk, but sometimes also on the front by the radiator.
Have you seen one lit and flashing? I hope not, because if it is, it means the taxi driver needs help!
Those lights are called "trouble light" and sometimes "emergency light" or "amber light". It is a visual distress signal to alert the authorities that the driver is in danger, say being attacked or being robbed. It is activated by the driver with a switch, and it is a silent alarm. If you see one, make sure to call the police!
Hey Uber drivers!
Maybe you should be installing it too. I assume the authorities will come to your aid. Very affordable and easy to install.
https://www.taxidepot.com/taxiproducts/trouble-light-security-system
Comments
I've been driving rideshares for like 5 years and no, I never knew this existed.
I appreciate you recommending this to us, but if the police aren't paying attention, it means nothing, right? If I lived in NYC where I am sure the officers are trained, that's one thing. but I am sure that isn't the case everywhere.
Right, not to mention it's on a Toyota Camry, and not on a taxicab.
Actually, this concept is used widely and internationally. Police officers are definitely trained to look out for those.
Also, remember, it's a flashing light. It definitely will stand out; definitely enough to make you go, "huh? there's something weird going on."
Most cops today cannot find a pair of tits in a strip joint and this is the result of lowering the standards for jerk offs who do not deserve that job.
No, I had no idea. and if I didn't know, how can it help. That'd be so sad if a cabbie is calling for help but people just finds it cute and keeps walking.
With Taxis I think the driver is in more danger as robbers may potentially think they carry cash.
A cab can be ordered through a payphone.
Uber/Lyft are ordered through a phone using an account and tied to a credit card, plus it is a cashless system.
Other than a few idiots that harmed rideshare drivers in recent past: a dumb girl who stole a machete in Walmart and stabbed a driver, and idiot (ex taxi company owner or taxi driver) that bought a gun, ordered an Uber through his phone and then shot and killed his driver while stopped at the light, such incidents are not frequent. I suspect rideshare driver job is not nearly as dangerous as taxi drivers.
Dashcam is also a good deterrent
These are great points. Remember that being a taxi driver used to be ranked as one of the most dangerous jobs?
I agree the ride share job must not be close to this stats
UberEats drivers are always in danger because they are carying food. I am being serious btw. I've heard that in college towns, the deliverers have to be careful and have to check IDs, because people were stealing pizzas from their fellow students.
I didn't think of the cashless experience being a safety mechanism for drivers. Great point.
No, it isn't so much to alert the passerbys. It's to alert the police officers and police cruisers that are driving by. They are trained to respond to those.
They even have a procedure, where they may pull over the car and at first pretend that nothing is wrong. Then they would control the situation (say, make the driver get out of the car AND Then question the passenger (possibly a robber).
Well, New Yorkers will keep walking even if they knew, but...yeah, sad either way.
Uber has one on the phone now, right?
There's nothing silent or secretive about it though. My phone is on the dash where my riders (the attacker) can see!
and Honestly, I don't know if I will ever have the chance to tap-tap-tap to reach the exact button in a case of an emergency.
There's an easier way... it's the old fashioned 9-1-1 that has been around for years. It's easy to remember no special sequence or confirmations, and fewer (and less confusing) steps.
I actually wondered the same thing. I'm thinking this "technology" has been around since before cell phones were popular.
The only other use case I can see is if the driver is being held hostage and had the phone taken away. I guess.
Seriously the NYPD will come to your aid when that stupid light is flashing ??? Hello drivers carry your own protection as I do because I am not going down for penny wages.
Do you know that cops hate us and that trouble light means Jack nothing to them. I carry LIQUID ASS and that's my trouble light.