Coping

This post addresses two of the most common questions asked by my passengers: a) How on earth do you cope with drunks, and b) What do you use the video camera for?

Firstly I've learnt that the best method of dealing with nasty, argumentative drunkards is to give thanks I don’t have to live with them. Thus, in most cases it’s easy to endure their infantile behaviour knowing they will soon be out of my life, gone forever.

In short, don’t react to someone else’s nightmare – that’s their partner’s lot, not mine.

The camera is also a phone and sat/nav device, with video taping on standby position. Not only does it capture blog material but also comes in handy when fellow motorists seek to apply pressure, mostly other cabbies! Once they see a video camera operating they invariably back off.

In the following encounter the camera serves a useful third function, that of recording bad behaviour or potentially reportable situations where it’s helpful to have a tape of what transpired. Or just the visible presence of a video camera is enough to subdue misbehaving passengers.

Regarding this a middle-aged woman on Saturday night climbed in the back seat and announced, “Driver, I’m drunk!” Fair enough, so I left her alone and drove real steady in silence, save for some gentle radio playing in the background.

Approaching the destination I requested which of three exits she preferred in order to best reach her street. This was rudely dismissed with an inaudible mumble as she continued played with her phone. To be fair, she was having a hard time locating someone and was clearly frustrated.

When I reached for the directory at the next traffic lights she snapped, “You don’t need that, smart arse, I’ve told you where I live!” But as soon as I attempted an explanation she exploded, “Just shut your fuckin’ mouth and drive!” Charming.

With that I immediately triggered the video camera, bringing the blank screen to life and sending a clear message that further abusive and/or unreasonable behaviour would be taped. And she was smart enough to realise the implications. In the end it served to neutralise a vitriolic drunk.

Comments

[Boy on a bike]

You had "flame trees" playing on the radio. How could anyone get upset whilst listening to that? Mad cow.

[Noah]

Hey Adrian,

Just wondering how you get your N95 to tape in standby mode - and how you cope with the storage requirements?

[LaLa]

I don't know how you do it Adrian, I would so want to smack her.

[Skyring]

Oh boy! We've all been there!

They can't understand why you are asking questions. They know exactly where they live and all you've got to do is drive them.

But you can't argue with a drunk. Just nod along, keep them happy, take what they give you and say as little as possible.

Better a cranky drunk than one who falls asleep!

[Rainer the cabbie]

Why do they call it PMT ?
Because mad cow disease was taken !
...with apologies to all the real lady Cablog readers.

[Irishhorse]

Love the blog

[adrian]

Noah, I leave video screen on standby (light extinguishes after 60 seconds) with Maps, GPS, SportsTracker, Contacts etc running in the background. By lightly depressing trigger button the screen activates and a full depress starts the video recording. Storage capacity is via a 2gb card holding around two hours of HD footage.

[GF]

Wow! Talk about pot calling kettle black with the "obvisouly not enjoying life" comment! Obviously she's enjoying hers so much that she feels the need to drink to oblivion and be arrogant and rude to strangers who are asking a simple and valid question. Obviously you are meant to be an oracle of all roads and directions in Sydney as well as a mind reader.

I don't know how you do it.. Adrian, you deserve a medal! One consolation was that she didn't spew (well not that we could hear)! Imagine waking up to that..if that is what she's like drunk, imagine what she's like hungover..

[art]

what a horrible woman! there's always one...

[Mick]

Adrian you are a saint. I haven't driven a cab for about 20 years and had forgotten what it was like, but I would have put her out as soon as the potty mouth started.

Would be great if she was able to hear herself in the sober light of day.

[Sannpet]

She is a sad, sad woman. In trying to describe you, she was describing herself!

[peter]

Good on you, Adrian. Is there a rule against simply stopping the cab & telling obnoxious people to get out? Also, can you turn the camera onto the passenger?

[Katherine]

I heard a clip from this video on ABC Sydney this afternoon, and I really hope this woman (and all her friends) was listening also. What a tragic creature she is.

[adrian]

Peter, generally only with the passenger's permission, unless it's an emergency of some sort.
Katherine, that's interesting, on whose program was it?

[Suhit]

Mate:

Great blog. I like your attitude towards life and your job in particular.

Also, love the way you use technology.

Great going.

Cheers
Suhit

[Cedric_Yao]

I salute you Adrian, Thats why I am not a cab driver, Just be safe on the road. We usually just tell the passengers to get out of the Bus.

[gonza]

good idea with camera, adrian. but. dont know about sydney. i drive cab in melbourne. once i wanted to keep a voice recorder for this kind of matters but found out it was illegal using it in a cab. could have been charged for doing that.