Taxi Vs. Scaffolding, Four Hurt

Yikes: A taxi crashed into scaffolding outside a bank on Park Avenue South and East 21st Street. WABC 7, which describes the cabs as an "out-of-control" SUV, reports that the incident occurred "just before 2 a.m." and sent four people to the hospital. Based on the photo, that cab seems like it must have been super out-of-control, since it's totally on the sidewalk.

The Department of Buildings also had to check the integrity of the scaffolding, lest it collapse and cause more chaos. The four people, apparently the passengers and driver, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Bellevue.

Recently, AMNY looked at the Taxi and Limousine Commission's "etiquette" school for bad cabbies: "Drivers who speed, curse out passengers or commit other serious offenses can get their licenses revoked. But those who break lesser TLC rules, such as busted headlights or illegal parking, are sent to two days of classes in driving etiquette." One attendee now believes being polite works best, "Before, I thought that to make money I should go fast. This has changed my driving. I’m more smooth.”

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By Jen Chung in News on August 4, 2010 8:44 AM

Comments [rss]

Potty Boy

21st and Park - isn't that where Primehouse is? Coulda been me.

NewHCE

I knew this would happen. It has got to be distracting to ask trivia questions when driving a cab. They should make it illegal.

lostwallet

This totally squares with my theory that drivers driving the night shift are the least-experenced and craziest of them all. I've had some harrowing late night rides (completely sober, working late) and usually have to give turn by turn directions to the Upper West Side.

The other night, a cab cut across four lanes of traffic to cut off another cab that was showing to pick me up. When I waved off the aggressive driver, he cursed me out and sped off through a red light.

Had I known the driver would have suffered repercussions from my complain, I would have turned his taxi number in. Unfortunately, I'm sure I'll see him again.

JayNYC

Cab drivers are indeed out of control. I live UES and it's easier for me to take an $8 cab to work each day than hike to the subway (which I take home). Just this morning my cabbie blew his horn and went off on a lady who walked in front of the cab while we were coming into Times Square. Traffic was slow & we were at a stop, so I'm not sure what pissed him off so much, but between that and him throwing on the breaks casuing me to slam into the guard window every few blocks, I was ready to hurl when I got out.