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Future Of Taxi, Ride-Sharing In NYC May Include ‘Panic Buttons’ For Drivers And Passengers

A New York City Council committee is considering “panic buttons” for drivers of taxis, street hail liveries and for-hire vehicles. And another button — for passengers.

Everywhere you turn in the city there are people hopping into cabs, livery cars, Ubers and Lyfts. “All the time, every day,” Nick Larson of lower Manhattan told CBS2’s Jenna DeAngelis. Larson said he has never had a problem when it comes to safety.

“Fortunately, but I have heard stories of other people. You never know what’s gonna happen out there,” Larson said.  So he’s on board with a proposal to put panic buttons in the back of cabs, livery cars and for-hire vehicles. The second piece of legislation being considered by the council is installing a button in the front of these cars — to help the driver.

“I think it’s a great idea to have that because you never know, people are crazy,” said Debbie Dowers of Astoria. City Council member Andy King first introduced the bill to add panic buttons to cabs last legislative session.

“When we met, over 150 drivers showed up to tell their horror stories of how they got ripped off — not to mention Camacho, who got shot eight times,” King said.

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