Guide

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Events

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Taxis & Personal Hygiene

1046

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 06 October 2012 - 21:24

Ok, so I'm having a bad time with taxis at the moment - last weekend was a disaster with the taxi turning up 1hr 15mins late. Last night, my friend and I were all dressed up going to a very special occasion and needed a taxi. Thankful that we'd been able to get one on time, we hopped in and sped off, to find ourselves wretching within seconds at the repulsive stale body odour of the driver. (I'm talking days old....) Luckily it was a relatively short journey and boy were we glad to get out.

If there are any press vultures out there needing a by-line, do feel free to take this up. How can it be ok for a service so dependent on it's customers to fall so short of basic reasonable expectations? What to do?

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2725

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 21:14

I sometime use a private car that belongs to the Westin, fare is literally the samr price as a normall taxi, but I know he expects a decent tip, well worth it.

1336

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 19:46

Some people are more genetically predisposed to be, err, smellier. Not that it's an excuse, but some just aren't taught and don't know any better. Workshops would be good ,but considering the shifts they work do you think the employers really care? I remember a driver once telling me that out of the 5 or so companies that work under the RTA Taxis umbrella, there is one that they don't like as that company is not very nice to their drivers and has a lot of 'bad eggs' giving them a bad name. Once I did a charter flight to a remote Australian community, it was quite difficult as many of the passengers had never flown before, were actual true to life nomadic travellers and smelled quite...fragrant.... had an interesting conversation with an older Aboriginal man on the flight who worked in social affairs and he told me that to many 'bush' folk (which he grew up as) that "white fellas" smell very strong to them (since we tend to use perfume/deodorant etc) and it's just as bad for them as body odour/natural bush living smell is to everyone else.... Sorry for the drift.... I don't agree it;s the shifts or uniforms though because I've gone in cabs where the driver team obviously cares for the vehicle and uses their cleaning allowance to buy air fresheners/tissues etc to make the cab nice...

2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 13:34

Ive learnt that people who smell really strongly of BO are so used to that smell that they dont realise that to some its unpleasent. hence they dont do anything about it. That sounds like a rather painful life lesson Years of working in HR and having to have that conversation ' I think you have a body odour problem ! '

437

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 13:33

Ive learnt that people who smell really strongly of BO are so used to that smell that they dont realise that to some its unpleasent. hence they dont do anything about it. That sounds like a rather painful life lesson

2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 13:32

Ive learnt that people who smell really strongly of BO are so used to that smell that they dont realise that to some its unpleasent. hence they dont do anything about it.

3376

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 12:26

exactly, expatriate. So busy that they have no time to wash their uniform, no time to shower, no time to clean the taxi? That can't all be RTA's fault.

3863

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 12:25

Agree and why arent all of them this way?

Expatriate62065

310

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 12:25

Sorry, but blaming the employer or long hours for smelling like garbage is a ridiculous excuse.

3863

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 12:22

Dont blame the driver,blame the comp who dont give them chance or time to be more hygenic, i blame RTA (as taxi are expencive) cab should be super clean //facial tissue //wet napkins !!! where all these things Then why are some taxis spotless whilst others are awful I have actually gagged at the stench in a couple of them wheras others smell lovely?

775

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 12:16

Dont blame the driver,blame the comp who dont give them chance or time to be more hygenic, i blame RTA (as taxi are expencive) cab should be super clean //facial tissue //wet napkins !!! where all these things

3376

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 11:26

I just try to remember it's not my personal driver, so the expectations can't be too high. Unless they are forcefully argumentative or drive dangerously, I wouldn't call to complain about hygiene--as much as it makes me want to vomit. When the attempt to mask it with air freshener seems to make it even worse! If it was for more than a 10 dirham ride, I'd probably pass on the cab.

1530

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 11:26

But living in Dubai our clothing dries so fast if its hung up outside, so the uniforms could dry overnight. Problem for the drivers is that they work 7 days a week and hard to take sick leave etc. They get 60 days off every 2 years instead.

437

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 11:24

They could do some basic personal hygiene workshops / talks to educate the drivers and hand out free soap and deo. Posters up in their dorms about washing hands and washing would help too. it's washing their clothes..... they need more uniforms Thing is, they are charged for new uniforms each year, but from what i'm told, they quality is really bad. So quite a few buy their own clothes, but have their salary deducted for bad polyester ones anyway (which attract sweat and BO) I'm quite bad for opening every window if there is a smelly driver, but I will get out immediately if a cab smells like smoke.

1996

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 11:22

They could do some basic personal hygiene workshops / talks to educate the drivers and hand out free soap and deo. Posters up in their dorms about washing hands and washing would help too. it's washing their clothes..... they need more uniforms Why then can some manage and some cannot if it is only the uniforms? Each driver gets the same amount, don't they? I am not trying to be harsh, I am genuinely asking if you think it is just the uniforms... Maybe they don't-I've noticed the yellow topped taxi drivers uniforms often look very well worn so maybe some only get one uniform?

3376

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 11:19

They could do some basic personal hygiene workshops / talks to educate the drivers and hand out free soap and deo. Posters up in their dorms about washing hands and washing would help too. it's washing their clothes..... they need more uniforms Why then can some manage and some cannot if it is only the uniforms? Each driver gets the same amount, don't they? I am not trying to be harsh, I am genuinely asking if you think it is just the uniforms...

452

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 11:00

They could do some basic personal hygiene workshops / talks to educate the drivers and hand out free soap and deo. Posters up in their dorms about washing hands and washing would help too. it's washing their clothes..... they need more uniforms

1530

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 10:58

They could do some basic personal hygiene workshops / talks to educate the drivers and hand out free soap and deo. Posters up in their dorms about washing hands and washing would help too.

2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 10:53

I took advice from somone on here and complained to the RTA regarding a smelly taxi driver. It was very old stale BO. I then got a call back from the RTA a couple of weeks later to say the fined the taxi driver !:\: I felt really bad ! what did you expect them to do ? tell him off but not fine him !!!! it was about 200 aed as well !

452

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 10:00

I took advice from somone on here and complained to the RTA regarding a smelly taxi driver. It was very old stale BO. I then got a call back from the RTA a couple of weeks later to say the fined the taxi driver !:\: I felt really bad ! what did you expect them to do ? Hose him down, maybe? :D AMY!!!!

3376

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 09:35

I took advice from somone on here and complained to the RTA regarding a smelly taxi driver. It was very old stale BO. I then got a call back from the RTA a couple of weeks later to say the fined the taxi driver !:\: I felt really bad ! what did you expect them to do ? who knows, a reprimand/warning? The only time I have called RTA to complain was when a taxi decided to reverse down a main street because he missed a turn and almost ran me over. I never got a return call. If one threw change at me like happened to another poster, I would also call.

557

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 09:30

I took advice from somone on here and complained to the RTA regarding a smelly taxi driver. It was very old stale BO. I then got a call back from the RTA a couple of weeks later to say the fined the taxi driver !:\: I felt really bad ! what did you expect them to do ?

2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 09:25

I took advice from somone on here and complained to the RTA regarding a smelly taxi driver. It was very old stale BO. I then got a call back from the RTA a couple of weeks later to say the fined the taxi driver !:\: I felt really bad !

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 08:07

Once me and my friend go into a taxi and it stank so bad I made up an excuse to get out. We caught our breath and hailed another taxi. But yes they do share their taxi so if one doesn't take hygiene to seriously the other guy suffers. I guess the long shifts and the food some people eat doesn't help. But then, I have also gotten into a taxi a few times that stank of alcohol. I prefer sweat over that lol. Oh well, I'll just open the window :p I wonder if RTA gives their drivers some training on personal hygien. On the other hand, I don't know what I would look and smell like after 12 hours driving a taxi.

3376

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 07 October 2012 - 08:03

I find that it is either on one end of the spectrum or the other. Some take obvious pride in their vehicle and the service they provide, and it is reflected in not only their hygiene but also in the way they drive. Just my take.

452

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 06 October 2012 - 21:26

The drivers usually only have two or so uniforms and live in sharing accommodation, working seven days a week, 12 hour shifts - the poor guys don't always have time to do laundry everyday. It's gross i know but......

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