Sleep deprived drivers
Have you ever wondered how the Chennai cab drivers drive the way they do? Here I do not mean the auto drivers. Let’s talk only about the call taxis and the ones who pick and drop IT/ITES junta in Chennai. That’s not driving. Maybe calling it ‘madness behind wheels’ would be more appropriate.
There is an interesting backdrop to this. How long do you sleep on an average? I manage between six to eight hours. Six makes me feel groggy and eight is a luxury. Seven is more realistic. Many cab drivers on the other hand run virtually 24/7 managing to sleep only during gaps in the trips. Reason? Money baby.
The IT companies as far as I know usually get into an agreement with some taxi agency.
The taxi agencies are mere coordinators. The guy who drives for a shift is getting paid by the kilometers he drives, not for the hours he is on duty. This is more like a freelancing job. During my trips from Tambaram to my home during nights, I have seen taxi drivers asking if they can take the GST route. The reason is simple – that is the longest route, which means more money for him from the company. He drives, submits the bills based on the kilometers driven, leaves for the day. He comes back the next day or night as the case may be.
I am not sure if there is an efficient way to check he does not drive elsewhere during off-shift hours. Going by the way they are on the roads, I strongly suspect that is the case.
Much has been said and written about DUI (driving under influence) but not many know that driving without adequate sleep is equally dangerous. I would even say more because, there is no way to find out if the guy has had enough sleep unless he kills someone. It’s even more alarming that nobody even talks about this.
Try working without adequate sleep for two days in a row, your colleagues will realize how irritable and anti-social you have become. Whenever I have slept less, I develop a disrespect and disdain for everybody.
No wonder these call taxis and cab drivers are menacing on the roads.
People are elated about Tata’s Nano. Taking nothing away from Tatas, I would’ve been happier had they invented something which would sense the eye and detect if the person has slept enough. The ignition should work only if the person behind the wheels has slept enough. Why Tatas? They make the Indicabs, don’t they?
There are much safer methods to reduce population in the city. Let’s not take cab drivers help for this purpose. I wish somebody takes this issue to the next level and does a proper study.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:28 am
I have seen drivers not taking trips because the trip is too small (may be 2 kms). They would go only when the co-ordinator asks them to go. Unless, the co-ordiator asks them to go, they would start suggesting other cabs to be taken. More of an auto-culture
August 1st, 2008 at 7:17 am
AAR
I kinda agree. thats bcos they are paid by the km they do.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:59 am
In this case, the co-ordinators should be available before us at the parking lot. But they would be the last person to come to the parking lot. The general excuse they give is that they need to call people who are travelling on the day. This happens even if they have phones from the parking lot to call people.