2 killings highlight dangers of Detroit cabbies' job

Please try to give your cab driver a break if they are a little later, or a little cranky. They have one of the lowest paying and most dangerous jobs on Earth.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20121024/NEWS05/310240071/2-killings-highlight-dangers-of-Detroit-cabbies-job

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In the last few weeks, four cab drivers have been attacked on the streets of Detroit. Two were killed, including a Checker Cab driver who was shot and killed Oct. 16.

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Some of the things the drivers are taught during the seminar, said police spokeswoman Sgt. Eren Stephens, include avoiding crowds and being careful about flashing large sums of money.

"If they are about to drop off a fare and see a large group of people, they should pass the location by a block or so and then drop off the fare," Stephens said.

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Ron Mullen, 64, said that most drivers survive off common sense -- waving off shady fares, getting people to prepay and resting through short power naps at taxi terminals throughout town rather than on the street. He has had no trouble in six years as a driver.

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So far, the drivers at the company I work for have only had some minor assaults and the occasional no pay. But one of the most stressful parts of my job is dreading the day I get the call from Officer So n So telling me that there has been a robbery or worse.