Partitions to shield cabbies?
Officials at the Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Ministry were yesterday told to look into the possibility of partition screens being installed in Greek cabs in order to protect drivers from attacks, following the murder of a taxi driver in Thessaloniki last week. Deputy Infrastructure Minister Nikos Sifounakis met with cabbie unionists yesterday to examine ways of increasing the safety of drivers. Among the measures discussed was the installation of CCTV cameras and the reserving of an emergency frequency on the CB radios used by drivers. The cabbies are concerned that after installing a glass or plastic partition, they will not be able to carry anyone in the front passenger seat. They also point out that many taxis are not fitted with separate air conditioning in the rear of the vehicle. Ministry officials have been asked to examine how such partitions could be installed and what implications they could have for passenger safety if there is a crash.
