Photo by David Torres.
Councilman Mark Levine called Monday for the city to enforce laws limiting the amount of time that taxi drivers can spend on the road. Taxi driver Salifu Abubkar was reportedly driven for 16 hours before hitting and killing 88-year-old Luisa Romero on 109th street and Columbus Avenue Sunday.
“The tragic death of Luisa Rosario is a painful reminder that the grueling conditions many taxi drivers work under aren’t just bad for cabbies, they put all of us at risk. Mr. Abubkar reportedly drove at least 16 hours every Saturday–proof that the City is not enforcing the legal limit of 12-hour shifts. We need to put mechanisms in place to make sure no other New Yorkers are endangered by fatigued taxi drivers exceeding the legal limit for hours behind the wheel.”
Might be helpful if he gave us some idea what those “mechanisms” might consist of, and why he thinks they would be effective.
At least he’s trying. New Yorkers must keep pushing to have traffic laws enforced on every block and on every corner of our city. More cameras, more fees and loss of licenses as well as jail time for “failure to yield” nonsense.
As I mentioned when I first read about these traffic fatalities, there needs to be other considerations to the issue of dark evenings, dark and badly lighted streets and sidewalks, and seniors who need to get around after dark, The traffic lights often don’t provide enough time to cross in the dark when one is trying to walk, while keeping an eye out for potholes and sidewalk cracks, and trying to finish crossing while there is enough time. Crossing the street is hazardous to seniors and others after dark. Not just from overworked cabdrivers.
It’s like playing cat and mouse with the cabbies. Often thy zip around corners and dare you to keep crossing. There should be a delay on many corners and enforcement of the yield law…if there really is one. I consider taxies “preditors”.
Why is it okay to drive for 12 hours….why is that the limit.? Driving in the city is difficult and wearing…..seems 12 hours is about 4 hours too long! Yes, I know they are trying to make a living…..but safe streets and the public good are at stake here