City of Chicago Fails to Discipline Unsafe Cab Drivers

The recent Chicago Tribune  investigation into the City of Chicago’s disciplinary actions against unsafe cab drivers reveals that much more needs to be done to make our streets safer.  Let me first say that I live in the City and use cabs quite often.  I believe that they are a necessary and important transportation option for any urban community.  At the same time, I have often longed for my grandmother’s rosary as my cab barrels through an intersection several seconds after the light changed to red.  Not all cab drivers are unsafe, but enough are that there needs to be strong disciplinary action taken against drivers that flaunt the laws and repeatedly receive traffic citations, especially speeding tickets.  From the findings of the Tribune investigation it is clear that the City needs to take a much harder line and revoke the licenses of repeat offenders.  It will only be when cab drivers recognize that their potential livelihood could be at stake that we will see modification in driving behavior.  The strict guidelines adopted by other metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles would be a good start. We should try to eliminate the worst drivers entirely and give the rest something to think about before gunning the accelerator when the light changes to yellow.

By John R. Gorey, Gorey Law Group, P.C.

If you are someone you know has been injured as a result of an accident involving a taxi cab, please contact the Gorey Law Group at (312) 445-5859 or email John Gorey at [email protected] for a free consultation.