02.26 /14
10 years ago
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s proposal to limit taxi speed to 25 miles an hour is being met with opposition from passengers as well as taxi drivers.
Decreasing the traditional speed limit is just a portion of the mayor’s plan for reducing traffic collisions which cause over 200 deaths in Manhattan each year, and injure more than 4,000 citizens. The mayor’s initiative would add more traffic light cameras, increase the numbers of highway patrol officers, and raise the penalties for hazardous driving. Portions of the proposal would have to be ratified by lawmakers in the state capital.
The plan for the most densely populated city in the United States is derived from the Swedish viewpoint that each and every traffic accident can be prevented.
The plan builds upon the endeavors of former mayor, Michael Bloomberg. The city experienced a more than 30 percent decrease in traffic deaths during Bloomberg’s dozen years in office.
At a recent news conference, Mayor de Blasio pointed out that the proposal involves a combination of education, enforcement, and maintenance, which will address the issues that engender traffic accidents, such as hazardous driving and poorly configured streets.
Over 13,000 cab drivers are on the streets of NYC for many hours each day are frustrated and skeptical. Some cab drivers say it’s not an issue because they are always stuck in traffic, so their speed seldom exceeds 18-20 mph anyway. However, most taxi drivers predict the initiative would cause serious inconvenience for both drivers and customers.
The arguments include the following:
• Most taxi company employees are very safe drivers. • Most people who ride in taxicabs are used to drivers going fast.
• Many customers will get frustrated and angry when they realize that slower trips mean longer trips and longer trips necessitate advance planning.
• Some passengers will be angry because of the lengthy trip and may refuse to pay the cab driver.
• The initiative would place an insufferable financial hardship on drivers, many of whom pay from 350-450 a week just to lease their vehicles.
Under the mayor’s initiative, the driver’s speed will be recorded by the meter and those who drive too fast will suffer financial penalties. The new fines would raise the first offense penalty more than 150 per cent, and a subsequent offense would mean a penalty of over 700.00 and a month’s suspension of the cab driver’s license. Penalties for further offenses would be unchanged.
Studies show that the probability of a fatality when hit by a vehicle running at 20 miles per hour is less than 2 per cent; the likelihood of death is 70 per cent when struck by a vehicle going 40 miles per hour.
Thank you for your interest in Allstate Private Car & Limousine, Inc. transportation services.
To inform and help protect independent vehicle operators and their passengers, we have developed and implemented a set of COVID-19 response measures compliant with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) recommendations.
As of April 17, 2020, New York State requires all TLC drivers and passengers to wear face coverings while riding together. Independent vehicle operators are required to wear a face covering, such as a facemask, bandana, or a scarf that cover mouth and nose when transporting passengers, or when otherwise within 6 feet of customers or others. Passengers are asked to wear a face covering before entering vehicles and during their entire ride.
We require independent vehicle operators to sanitize their vehicles before the start of each shift. Independent vehicle operators must also clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces after the completion of each trip. When cleaning and disinfecting, individuals must wear disposable gloves and PPE, compatible with the cleaning products being used. Vehicles must be thoroughly ventilated during and after the cleaning process. All gloves and any other disposable PPE used for cleaning and disinfecting the vehicles must be removed and disposed of after cleaning.
Interior surfaces that must be disinfected include: seat cushions, arm rests, door handles, window buttons, buckles and seatbelts, light and air controls, doors and windows, and grab handles. Frequently touched electronic surfaces, such as tablets or touch screens used in the vehicles must also be cleaned and disinfected. Special attention must be paid to surfaces and objects that are touched often by passengers. Surfaces that are frequently touched by the driver, such as the steering wheel, radio buttons, turn indicators and cup holders, must also be disinfected at regular intervals.
Independent vehicle operators must carry cleaning and disinfectant sprays and/or disposable wipes and disposal trash bags with them in their vehicles.
We educate independent vehicle operators about where to find accurate information about COVID-19, its symptoms, and how it spreads. We actively encourage sick independent vehicle operators to stay home. We also encourage the use of and provide assistance in acquiring hand sanitizer and disposable wipes and cleaning products.
As an important infection control measure, we require independent vehicle operators to practice regular hand hygiene. The times on the job to clean hands include:
Most independent vehicles are carrying partitions between driver and passengers for your safety.
At this time, we restrict independent vehicle operators from providing pooled rides or picking up multiple passengers who would not otherwise be riding together on the same route. Passengers should only be allowed to sit in the back seat.
We also encourage use of the vehicles' vents and/or lower the vehicle windows to bring in fresh outside air instead of using the recirculated air option for the car’s ventilation during passenger transport.
We ask independent vehicle operators to open and close trunks and doors for their passengers. Passengers should be asked to handle their own personal bags and belongings during pick-up and drop-off.
We prioritize contactless transactions that limit or eliminate close contact and the sharing of items such as pens and electronic signature pads between independent vehicle operators and passengers.
For the safety of passengers, no items such as water bottles or magazines should be provided.
We routinely conduct unannounced field checks to monitor compliance with our COVID-19 response measures. We discontinue service to our customers by independent vehicle operators found to not comply with our guidelines.
