Is it safe to take night taxi in Bangkok?

[Lakegeneve]

There was a small female only (driver & pax) taxi company that started about 5 years ago. However, they didn't survive Covid. Not sure if they have or will been revived? All Taxi Thai - book bby app - with the distinct yellow taxis was a safer company to use prior to Covid, but haven't seen many of their taxis around.

 

There are a few Lady Taxi driver services on FB and the web but mainly for out of BKK trips. Can contact them to ask if you needed a regular service.

 

You can request a "Lady" driver with Grab, https://www.grabdriverth.com/service/gc-lady

[Aussieroaming]

Good question. My wife won't take a taxi alone at night at all. She would rather catch the BTS or even a van if she were forced into it. She has had to deal with a couple of weird taxi drivers in the past that made her feel unsafe, so she prefers a more public transport trip.

 

As a guy I feel safe but I would be more self aware if it was late at night and I was in an unfamiliar area. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

Its strange but at night time the ‘mood' of taxi drivers shifts.... 

 

When I used to take a taxi at night with my Wife (then girlfriend) I noticed that if she did the talking it opened the door for the taxi driver to behave like a d!ck. 

 

It was subtle, but a sufficiently recognisable general character trait that led to me being the one to do the talking whenever we go into a Taxi....  I’d use a firm but polite tone etc...  I suspect this just sent the message to the taxi driver that I could speak Thai, knew where I was going etc... 

 

Sometimes its the subtle things and I’m sure the above could be ridiculed by some posters who don’t understand the minor idiosyncrasies of dealing with different characters here and in other countries. 

 

But speaking politely but firmly etc definitely placed me in a position of ‘relative dominance’ which perhaps made the difference between a driver messing us about and just doing what he’s asked.

 

Certainly for a lone female that position of dominance remains with the driver... in society which could often be accused of being morally and legally corrupt, this places a lone female at greater risk. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2022 by richard_smith237

[swm59nj]

I would not recommend it for females that are alone late at night. 
As for grab.  They do have an option in the app called Ladies for Ladies.  They will send a female driver for a female passenger.  The issue will be if any are available.  I use grab kind of often .  I haven’t seen many female drivers.  But worth a try. 

[connda]

Yes.

[Burma Bill]

On 10/22/2022 at 4:46 PM, topswijaya said:

Is it safe to take a night taxi in Bangkok?

According to Thai Tourism (TAT) - yes! Their Quote: "Safe and Trusted Thailand"????

[Lorry]

8 hours ago, Aussieroaming said:

As a guy I feel safe but I would be more self aware if it was late at night and I was in an unfamiliar area.

Agreed. Even in the middle of Bangkok,  there are shortcuts that go through very quiet and (at night) deserted areas, and if it's an area that I am not familiar with the feeling is bit ... uncomfortable? Just a bit.

Edited October 25, 2022 by Lorry

[jak2002003]

'Is it safe to take night taxi in Bangkok' 

 

No.  End thread. ????

[Rhys]

Well, make sure you notice the license and car number of your taxi and match up the ID of the driver... some taxi driver's photo ID do not match.

[geisha]

On 10/22/2022 at 8:25 PM, Lorry said:

Back to OP:

Yes, taxis are pretty safe.

The story about the Don Muang taxis kiling their passengers is more than 10 years old and an exception. 

What is NOT an exception are women raped by taxi drivers, you can google it yourself. 

 

A good example is the Brazilian raped by a taxi driver whom she flagged down at Don Muang: it happened in broad daylight (1:30 pm), and the driver had just been released from prison - because he had raped 2 other women before.  As 1moreFarang said: taxi drivers have this job  because they need money and don't get any better job.

 

I know Thai women who wouldn't take a taxi alone even during the day.

And most Thai woman consider taxis at night as dangerous and to be avoided. I have escorted Thai women on taxi trips during the night because they asked me to do so.

I wouldn’t either. If I need a taxi late I go to a nice hotel and order it there. I do that when going to the airport , just get the concierge to do it. Of course, I’m not out in the early hours of the morning.  I’ll never forget in KL , late flight, stopover in hotel. The taxi took a short cut, back road, no lights, I was terrified , shaking like a leaf, thought my days were over. But he was just taking a shortcut. I’ll never forget.won’t do that again. 

[lopburi3]

7 hours ago, Rhys said:

Well, make sure you notice the license and car number of your taxi and match up the ID of the driver... some taxi driver's photo ID do not match.

Normally taxi is not owned but day leased - even when privately owned (yellow/green color) the driver is often not the owner.  But agree have someone take plate number or take photo inside of information of driver or number on cab door and appear to SMS to someone for added security at night.  But the fact is almost nobody is at much risk as long as they are not high.  Millions of people use taxi here without incident.  

[bangon04]

6 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Normally taxi is not owned but day leased - even when privately owned (yellow/green color) the driver is often not the owner.  But agree have someone take plate number or take photo inside of information of driver or number on cab door and appear to SMS to someone for added security at night.  But the fact is almost nobody is at much risk as long as they are not high.  Millions of people use taxi here without incident.  

it is also a tradition to leave your wallet in the taxi when you get out. If it contains at least 50k baht you will be sure of a very positive press story about how honest the taxi driver(s) is(are).