Taxi drivers working with the police: taxis and public safety

Taxi drivers contribute to public safety because they are out on the streets at all hours, know the city and quickly spot anything out of the ordinary. Their cooperation with the security forces is mostly an everyday matter: reporting accidents and emergencies, acting as witnesses, handing in forgotten items and having alert systems for their own protection. A few years ago, in addition, it was made public that Madrid taxi associations were working with the police to draw up guidelines on suspicious behaviour.

• Constant presence. There are taxis on the road day and night, every day of the year, in every neighbourhood.
• Knowledge of the ground. A taxi driver can describe precisely where they are and how to get there, something very valuable in an emergency.
• Experience with people. Dealing with hundreds of passengers develops an instinct for unusual situations.
• Immediate communication. Radio, phone and alert systems let them call for help in seconds.

Emergencies and accidents

A taxi driver is often among the first to come across an accident or a person who needs help. The right thing to do is to call 112, the single emergency number, giving the exact location, and to give whatever help is possible without putting themselves at risk.

Witnesses

Because they are out on the streets, taxi drivers are often witnesses to traffic incidents or other events that the police need to clear up. Their account, with a precise time and place, can be decisive.

Forgotten items

Phones, wallets, keys or suitcases: whatever a passenger leaves in the taxi should go back to its owner. The driver can return it directly if they have a way of contacting the passenger, or hand it in to the City Council's Lost Property Office. We look at the most common forgotten items in the items most often left in taxis.

Protecting the driver

A taxi driver works alone and often at night. Radio systems and some devices installed in vehicles allow them to call for help discreetly if they are attacked, which also deters anyone intending to do so.

Cooperating does not turn a taxi driver into a police officer. Their job is to carry passengers safely and discreetly, and that includes respecting their privacy. The observation guidelines that have been circulated stress that no single sign on its own is grounds for suspicion: it only makes sense to raise the alarm in clearly unusual or dangerous situations, and always through official channels.

Travelling in an official taxi means travelling in an identified vehicle, with an accredited driver, a visible licence and insurance. It is the opposite of what happens with illegal services: we explain it in the risks of a fraudulent taxi. To travel with peace of mind, we recommend our safety tips for taking a taxi in Madrid.

Our service works with official taxis licensed by Madrid City Council, both for journeys in the city, for example with a taxi in central Madrid, and for a door-to-door airport transfer at a fixed price: €33 from inside the M-30.