Cab Safety 411

You don't need to go to Coney Island to get the ride of your life! Any New Yorker can tell you that riding in a New York taxicab is almost a bigger thrill ride than what the local amusement park has to offer. Not every cab driver maneuvers like he's in a video game or on the track at Indy. But if you're hesitant about having an uncomfortable ride or you're with your grandmother there are a few things you can do.

1. Audtition your cab driver before you get in. While standing on the corner hailing a cab take note of how the sea of yellows are operating coming towards you. This entails eyeing a cab a block away and assessing the driver safety quotient in quicktime to decide if you'd get in that cab. If a cab crosses four lanes of traffic and almost hits a delivery guy on his way to pick up your fare, you might want to think twice about getting in.Which brings us to rule #2

2. Have an escape plan
If a taxi almost runs you down trying to pick you up, you might want to think twice about getting in. You can nicely decline by pretending you forgot something and waving them away. If, however, you're already in a taxi and the driver exhibits scary driving patterns survey says the least threatening and polite requests are the most effective .

Faking a pregnancy - yours or someone elses - is the best chance you have for a positive and non-confrontational solution. Telling he/she they drive like a maniac or cursing at them to stop will likely only make things worse. Any insinuation that you are likely to blow chow for a multitude of reasons will probably do the trick. If nothing works, change your drop-off to a destination a block or two away, get out, check your pulse and start again.

3. Buckle up. If the seatbelt works, strap it on.