'Carefulness costs you nothing. Carelessness may cost your life, even your close one's life. Be conscious of your safety.'
Hiring Taxis or cabs is a convenient way of traveling from one place to another in a city. They are the most choice able option if you are traveling with a group of friends or family member together.
You will get right to your destination, without having to wait and waste your precious time. Taxis are known as the fastest as well as the most flexible way of traveling in a city from one place to another.
Is the Bagdogra Airport taxi service safe enough?
Bagdogra International Airport is located about 16kms from Siliguri Town and is the nearest major airport to visit Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Dooars. So you can opt for Bagdogra Airport taxi services from verified car rental agency after reaching the airport to reach nearby locations.
Bagdogra airport taxi service has collaborated with such drivers who have vast sources of information about local customs, current events, best restaurants and entertainment, who know where are nearest banquet hall conducting ceremonies that you will attend.
Most of them are quite expert in both safe and unsafe neighborhoods and what threats that you may face at your hotel or any other place. Still, you should be cautious with over-sharing about your life because they may pass the information on to someone else who can be harmful to you.
Some tips you should keep in mind when you are in a taxi-
Whenever you enter a taxi, you surrender a little control to your driver which is completely unknown to you. So, it's important to keep in your mind for your personal safety while you are in a taxi. Here is a list of some safety tips for taking a taxi:
1-Ask for the typical price and tipping range
Be sure about the exact price range to your destination and tipping charges from the Hotel staff or your host appropriate amount to tip. Having a good idea of what you should have to pay your driver and confirming the price range with the driver can give you less hassle when it's time to pay the bill.
2-Look for taxi number when hiring:
Many taxi drivers are connected with as well as work in partnership with thieves. Sounds scary? But, it is true. So, it is necessary to make sure the taxi number, or at least the company's name and phone number, is visible on the vehicle before you attempt to get in.
3-Never take a taxi alone if you're drunk
If you are too much drunk, it may seem like the right decision to get a taxi and it is with someone else.
The drink may also put you into sleeping or in a semi-conscious state which is not the best circumstance to defend yourself from the driver or anyone else who wants to harm you.
It is quite known that drunk riders have been raped, robbed, and even killed when they're riding in a taxi.
4-Look for a meter, a badge, and a door handle
All genuine licensed taxi drivers' vehicles are equipped with a meter for determining the charge and ID badge in the vehicle. If you don't see a badge or a meter does not get into the vehicle.
Always check that there's an interior door handle that works before you settle in too.
5-Sit in the back seat - not in the passenger seat
It is advisable to seat in the backseat for less visible to the driver and to passersby as well. If you're traveling solo, sitting in the middle is the right option. The less accessible you are, the less likely you'll be targeted.
6-Keep expensive items hidden & your bag close to you
You should keep your mobile devices and cameras in your bags and zip them up. It is also preferable to keep your purse, your luggage, or other bags close to you like on the floor between your feet where they're hard to see and even harder to reach.
7-Know where you're going ahead of time:
Have an idea where you're going ahead of time, and approximately how long it will take to get there. You can easily find your road route online on your Smartphone. However, be realistic about your knowledge of the area as the taxi driver may know a better route.
8-Ride with the windows closed and keeps your phone handy
Thieves are always looking for easy targets and you can make yourself a less easy target with s little efforts. So, it is advisable to keep your taxi's windows closes while you are traveling in a taxi.
9-Know your local currency
In some countries, the currency changes in certain time and drivers may return your change in worthless bills. Know enough about the local currency to identify the bills and coins you should use for payment.
10-Know who to call in an emergency:
Whenever you are traveling somewhere, you should always know about the emergency number or the number of them who are living in that particular city and can reach to you easily. This is why it's good to keep your phone out of sight but handy.
Safety Is a Choice Which You Can Make-
When it comes to safety, a taxi service always takes away the spotlight due to the customized services it offers. Everyone wants to feel safe and secured when traveling in a new city, or be it a city you are familiar with.
If you feel insecure in a public transportation, such as bus or trains, where you have no control over the people you travel alongside, you may as well go for our taxi ride.