Dear Sir,

While I greatly appreciate the Drive for Change campaign, we have jumped into that without viable, alternative transport. I live in Paget where it is notoriously difficult to get a taxi — especially by day — because the drive is too short and the fare not big enough.

My overseas summer house-sitters’ guests had to wait for more than 1½ hours every time to get a cab to Hamilton in the daytime. Our neighbours felt sorry for them and eventually drove them into town instead. This put a big dent in their holiday; they have children and couldn’t rent a car, and they had to grocery-shop, etc.

I was embarrassed and apologetic.

Recently, my firm had a staff dinner at The Loren. We waited more than an hour at 11pm while front desk called taxi companies to take us to central parishes, but no one came. I had to eventually call a private driver friend, who rescued us on his way home to bed.

The service Hitch has never worked for us, despite trying several times. So we deleted the app.

Sometimes I have been alone at night waiting on the side of the road, telling the dispatcher company that “I am the next Rebecca Middleton” if a taxi doesn’t come soon. I often promise to “pay double” if we get service.

I don’t seek to discredit the courteous and reliable taxi drivers who are honourable and pick up customers, no matter where or when, but there are not enough.

A desperate solution needs to be found before we all become insular couch potatoes who cannot cross a sobriety-check line or find a cab.

JULIANA SNELLING

Ps. Please don’t excuse cab drivers from checks. I know of at least one taxi driver who killed two innocent victims on separate occasions while drink-driving.