I'm a regular taxi customer. I ride a taxi everyday. I've been doing that for the past 8 years, eversince my son started going to school.
The lack of seatbelts on the backseat of taxi cabs in Manila really bothers me. Some have seatbelts but the locks are incognito. I've asked a number of drivers about this problem and they themselves can't give me a clear enough answer. Even new taxis don't have seatbelts. Do the owners purposely remove it, the seatbelts and locks, or do they get manufactured like that?
I did ride a few that has one. But with less than 10 taxis that has, in proportion with the hundreds that I've used in 8 years? That is a bothersome number, right? Manila taxi drivers are even famous for their reckless driving. I worry a lot when my son is with me. Some taxis even smell of cigars, which in itself is worthy of a separate complaint post.
I don't remember if cabs in the US, or in other countries, have seatbelts. Drivers there don't drive as recklessly. That may be the reason why I didn’t notice if there were seatbelts or not.
Our law makers should look into this because this is as risky as riding a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.
