Women taxi drivers sought for new service

Women drivers are being sought to operate a new 24-hour gender-specific taxi service in Dublin. The service, Angel Cabs, is being marketed at women.

Angel Cabs will launch its service in March, whereby women can order a woman driver to take them around the city.

The idea is the brainchild of sales rep Gerard McCarthy who said there was a clear demand for a fleet of women taxi drivers. He said he had consulted the Equality Authority as he prepared his plans.

He added he already knew of about 20 female taxi drivers who were interested in the plan.

His research has found that one in four women would prefer a female driver, saying that they would feel safer and more comfortable.

"Similarly, some female drivers feel safer and more comfortable with female passengers."

Mr McCarthy said it was not a "women only" service as it will take male and female passengers and it would not turn away male drivers who wanted to join the company. However, they might not get much work because of the nature of the service, he said.

Drivers need to have their own vehicle, be experienced and be fully licensed. There are about 400 female drivers in Dublin, according to Tommy Gorman, president of the National Taxi Drivers' Union.

"There's never been anything tried like this before," he said. "The first lady came into the business in 1975, but it's only since deregulation that the bulk of women came in." He gave it a guarded welcome but expressed doubts that it would work.

Depending on the demand, Angel Cabs initially expects to serve areas such as Santry, Clontarf, Blanchardstown, Tallaght, Dundrum and Blackrock before expanding further.

See www.angelcabs.ie for further information.