Hell(2)

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Last Wednesday, the 4^th June, was my fare from hell. On the same evening some two hours previously, Daily Telegraph reporter Clare Masters encountered her Taxi from Hell.

At almost the exact time, 6.30pm, that she was boarding her devil taxi, I was also on Macquarie Street at the same intersection. I’d picked up a fare from the Sir Stamford Hotel bound for Darlinghurst Road.

“Swing left here,” advised my passenger, “and take the tunnel for William Street to the Coke sign.” I quickly stamped on that suggestion and his follow-up option to go via Woolloomooloo. Due to traffic problems this was one of those rare occasions when a cabbie can confidently over-rule the passenger’s preferred route.

Reaching for the network radio I read him a message issued at 5:51 pm advising of a southbound accident on the Southern Cross Drive at Wentworth Avenue. This was impacting heavily on peak hour traffic entering the Eastern Distributor tunnel.

It was plain to see and he readily agreed to my intended back route through Stanley Street, East Sydney. In short, City North and William Street were totally buggered.

If only Clare Master’s cabbie had explained the problem maybe he would not have made the news, for the wrong reasons. It’s clear to me this is what irked him in the wet and dark conditions after just escaping from the congested area.

Last night I spoke with Masters and she reassured me that what happened was exactly how she reported the event. “There was nothing missing,“ she said, “that’s what happened.”

I noted how ironic it was that the end result - catching a train – was ultimately the best option for getting to Kings Cross that night.

Last Friday I was invited to join her and radio host Steve Price on his 2UE Mornings program to discuss the story. However being asleep at that time of day I’ve had to make do with a copy of the interview, sent by his producer.

After listening to the tape then talking with Masters I’m satisfied the Daily Telegraph are not simply indulging in some gratuitous cabbie bashing. Why, it's not even Christmas!

Seriously, though, it’s embarrassing to hear of a driver threatening to strike a passenger over heavy traffic. It's piss-weak, actually, and time he found a new industry.

(NOTE: Taxi-route plot above an approximation only, based on Ms Master's best recollections).

Comments

[Turner Mitteron]

When you spoke to Clare Masters did she mention what has happened with the driver? Had he been identified? and if not what efforts had been taken by the company or the Ministry of Transport to find him.

[adrian]

TM, Clare indicated she was told by the company that she would be informed of developments 'by paper'.

Regarding identifying the cab and driver there appears to have been a communication problem with the taxi plate number. They expect to receive this number tomorrow.

[slatts]

Finally, we've got a little of that rain that's been soaking you lucky buggers. All the lows from the west are slipping down into Bass Strait before they hit Victoria.