As commonplace as taxi at-fault accidents causing serious injury, or even death are, the accident occurring on August 29th, 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia, was anything but usual, caused by a interconnected chain of events featuring incompetence, hubris and plain stupidity that exemplified the American taxi industry then and now, indifference the prevailing theme. Just last week, a 25.5 million dollar judgement against Atlanta United Express Cabs was awarded o the husband of a passenger killed back in 2003. The main obstacle to a much earlier court settlement was the State of Georgia's DOT's (Department of Transportation) legal actions over the years, denying any culpability due to the accident occurring on a rainy night upon a poorly maintained and designed roadway. DOT took their arguments all the way to the Georgia Supreme Court before finally getting the ruling they wanted. The facts of the case are as follows.
On August 28th, 2003, the day before the fatal accident, the driver, Aballah Adem, took the cab in to the Atlanta Taxi Bureau for the car's semi-annual inspection. The car was passed and deemed safe even though both rear tires were bald, and in obvious violation of the measurable minimum tread depth of 2/32 inches. Compounding this error was the inspector himself, seven years on the job, and not knowing or understanding legal tire tread requirements. Aiding his incompetence was both the driver's and cab company's failure to notice the faulty tires and replace them.
Fast forwarding to the next day, August 29th, Adem was transporting a female passenger on her way to a $500,000 a year job interview. Adem lost control of his cab on the rain-slicked highway, veering across three lanes and running into a tree, where his passenger was unfortunately catapulted out of the cab and decapitated. Yes, a very horrible and very avoidable accident. Further insult was the sentencing of Aballah Adem, on August 23rd, 2005, when, after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide, he was slapped with probation and a mandatory defensive driving course. That was it. That was his punishment.
Without much further comment, I know that all my readers understand the underlying implications to this story, highlighting the obvious. The American Taxicab industry deserves what it has gotten, and whether it understands that the deathknell is tolling for thee is doubtful, very doubtful. Their ears are plugged, their eyes covered but unfortunately their mouths and tongues are still rattling away. Who wants to hear their prattle? Not me, not me.
Seattle Used to be Cheap
But not anymore. Soon drivers on State Route 520 (the Evergreen Point Bridge) will be paying a peak $4.95 on weekdays, and midday rates of $3.95 M-F. The bridge thanks you!
He Has a Sharp Axe
A few days ago, as I was mailing a letter, I heard a honk and it was "H", a taxi colleague from my earliest days dating back to September 1987. My first meeting with him was unforgettable. I was parked behind his all black-colored taxi on the Olympic Hotel cab stand. While leaning against my cab, some idiot teenagers ran past, with one slamming his hand on the black cab's trunk. Out leaps "H" and this is what he said: "I am going to take an axe and chop off your head." This of course was a remarkable statement but alas, he did not chase after the kid and behead him, Not saying he didn't deserve it but a jury trial first was to be recommended. I like "H". He is "something else!"
We Are All "Slim and Trim" in Seattle
The USA obesity rate embraces 42% of the population but not in Seattle. Seattle is rated the leanest town wearing the skinny crown. Interestingly, all the "too heavy" cities reside in the South. Too much grits?
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