The Cab Driver Dilemma

I like to think my cursed Libran tendency to always want balance, to see both sides of an issue and weigh the evidence equally, helps me as a journalist. But I think it may make me rubbish as a practical human being.

Perhaps you then, dear reader, can help me with a moral, ethical and philosophical dilemma.

This afternoon, after a media job in which I became aware that Queensland's Attorney-General knows I watched a porno (it's rather hard to explain), I returned to work in a cab.

Now, I don't know how you approach cab rides, but unless engaged in sparkly repartee with the driver, I tend to tune out. I look out of the window, I enjoy the view, I let my mind wander off in all sorts of directions. Particularly easy on days like today in Brisbane, which was at its breezy, summery best after a weekend of rain.

See! Look at that. Beautiful.

So I wasn't really paying attention when my cab driver swerved back into the middle lane of the Story Bridge after attempting to merge left. The vicious horn of the plum-coloured ute just behind us brought an end to my afternoon daydreaming. My cabbie muttered in frustration.

I couldn't honestly tell you who was "at fault" - my cabbie for merging without enough warning; or the ute for barging past.

The journey continued - but no more than 400 metres from my workplace, another incident.

I told the driver to take the right on a roundabout. He was moving slowly, probably only 30 or 40 km/hr. But he entered the roundabout without looking to his right; or if he did, without seeing the white van that was already entering the intersection and heading right for us. I yelped "Look out!" and he hit the brake, just as the van did.

For three seconds, both vehicles remain paused on the roundabout. Then obviously the van must've waived at my cabbie, as he accelerated and got out of the way.

Now, I believe in the second instance that this was in fact a poor driving decision by my cabbie. Had I not yelled out, had he not braked, it was highly likely our cab would have been hit by the van.

So my ethical dilemma is: should I report him to the cab company?

I am torn. On on the one hand, I think cab drivers need to be alert and competent. They have passengers' lives in their hands.

But maybe it was just an innocent mistake? I know I've made similar ones. Perhaps he was just having a bad day?

My cab driver was older - I'd put him in his late 60s. Am I being ageist, saying older drivers are less capable? My cab driver was Indian. Am I being racist, potentially allowing unfair stereotypes to colour my opinion (no pun intended)?

I was not paying full attention. Certainly I cannot swear that the first incident was my cab driver's fault. I am more certain about the second incident, but still, I wasn't paying as much attention as I would have been had I been actually driving.

Will my reporting him be welcomed by the company as a chance to boost training and safety? Or will it end up punishing the driver only if they simply decide to sack him? I don't want to cost someone their job, but perhaps I'm not the only one who's experienced this? What if he is an actual danger, and if I don't report him, the next incident may be worse?

Or am I just overthinking this all, making a mountain out of a molehill?

Ladies and gentlemen - choose your ethics wisely.