I refer to the letter Taxi drivers free to find another job and would like to thank the writer for the feedback and observations

I also never thought that I would write an ‘impassioned defence of taxi drivers’, as I do feel that their actions are part of the problems within the industry.

However, the recent series of articles in the mainstream media spent much of the time blaming the taxi drivers and did not consider all stakeholders.

The taxi drivers need not take full responsibility for the problems within the industry. It can be shared with the taxi permit owners (especially the profiteering ones), the taxi companies, the permit owners, the CVLB, the local authorities, and the consumers themselves.

The comparison to snatch thieves and burglars did catch my attention. There may be similarities (people taking something which does not belong to them) but how many people voluntarily consent to snatch theft or burglary?

It could be said that giving up our valuables in case of theft or robbery is consent. The actions of some of my neighbours, who have resorted to leaving cash in their houses to satisfy would-be burglars could also be consent.

And so, it could be argued that people who accept overcharging from taxi drivers are consenting for their own protection and security.

But there is some difference between theft and a taxi driver not using the meter and setting his own fare above that to which he is entitled. Taxi drivers are not thieves or robbers for overcharging their customers.

It is certainly fair to say that some taxi drivers are guilty of fraud, for some of the reasons which the writer described. But fraud is not the same as robbery or theft.

Both the taxi driver and the customer have a choice to accept or follow the metred rates or not. Ask around and you will find that most customers and taxi drivers have already made those choices.

Some will agree to overcharging while others will not. Some will do it under pressure and some will not. But choices have been made on both sides.

Though it may be based on fraud or sympathy or fear or sympathy, many in the market have generally accepted higher fares for taxi services.

The writer is correct in that we should not tolerate fraud or theft but some of us continue to do so. Some of us also tolerate corruption, profiteering, greed, and the actions (or inactions) of our government and our leaders.

And some of us will continue to tolerate the poor state of our taxi industry. The problems within the industry are numerous, but we cannot simply blame the taxi drivers and point to them as the only problem.