Popular longtime taxi driver in Glace Bay expects calls to increase after Halifax acquittal
Andrea Spencer has been a cab driver for 24 years, and most of her passengers are female
A female taxi driver in Glace Bay, N.S., is in high demand.
Andrea Spencer spends most nights and early mornings driving her cab — and most of her passengers are female.
In the aftermath of this week's ruling by Justice Gregory Lenehan, Spencer expects her calls will increase.
She spoke with CBC's Norma Jean MacPhee. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
CBC: How long have you been driving a cab?
AS: I've been driving a cab for almost 24 years for Sonny's Taxi in Glace Bay. It's something I love to do.
CBC: Do you get calls specifically from women?
AS: Oh yes, a lot of them, you can ask my bosses and the dispatchers. I'm one of the most popular drivers just because most of them, 95 per cent of them, are female that ask for me because they feel safer getting home with me. They feel more comfortable.
CBC: I find that really interesting.
AS: So do I. Not that I think any of the other drivers would do anything.... I really don't believe that because this is like a brotherhood/sisterhood where I work. We're family. We treat all our passengers with respect and that's the way it should be. You don't want anyone, especially a girl, to feel uncomfortable. They shouldn't have to worry if they're going to be assaulted or if anything is going to happen. They're supposed to feel safe when they're getting that cab drive home and that's the way I try to make everyone feel — to get them home safe.
CBC: What do the woman passengers tell you?
AS: They say, "Andy we're glad it's you picking us up," and they'll sit in the front with me. When it's the guys picking them up they'll sit in the back because they're very nervous with the guys and they just feel more comfortable with me as a female driver.
CBC: When you encounter male or female passengers who are perhaps drunk, can't speak properly or are in a state that might be compromising for themselves, do you take any special precautions?
AS: I help them get into the house. I've driven ladies home from the bars in Sydney where they should've been going by ambulance and I will take them into the house and wake her parents up and say, "You gotta take her." I make sure they get home safe.
And if we can't get them out of the cab, then we'd normally call the police and have the police officer take them out of the car. That way they can't say something happened. We do it as a preventative for our protection and for their protection as well.
CBC: After the acquittal of the taxi driver in Halifax, from a taxi driver perspective, how do you think female patrons out there are going to be feeling?
AS: I really don't think they're going to feel too safe getting into the cab with the guys, I really don't.
CBC: Do you think calls for you will increase?
AS: I think my cell phone might be ringing a bit more. They can still call and ask for me — doesn't mean they're going to get me because I could be here, there and everywhere. But all of our drivers are trustworthy. I don't want the girls to feel they have to be scared getting cabs. Our job is to make sure we get you home safe and whether you're drunk or sober it doesn't matter, we're gonna do our best to get you home safe.