OHS Awareness NSW Taxi Operators - NSW Taxi Industry

Review of Exercise
Stress and Taxi Driving
Here are some things to do with taxi driving that might make Taxi Drivers stressed. Check
your answers with the ideas below.
- difficult customers
- other road users who are thoughtless
- worry about money
- tiredness
- being new to the work of a Taxi Driver
- not knowing routes or locations
- not understanding all the Regulations
- driving in heavy traffic
- bringing stress from your home life to the workplace
You have probably identified several other things that might make you stressed.
Ways of dealing with stress
There are many ways of dealing with stress. Some approaches suit some people better
than others. Here are a few approaches:
be aware of your attitude to things in your life
talk things over
keep fit and healthy
get help if you need it
relax.
Be aware of the way you see things
Some Taxi Drivers get very stressed by other drivers' or customers' behaviour. Taxi
Drivers must learn to control their stress levels by not getting too upset. Remember that
how upset you become depends on your attitude.
If a driver cuts in front of you suddenly there's little point in getting furious. If you don't
agree with a passenger don't get involved in an argument, just let it go. One of the
important skills of the professional driver is the ability to keep an emotional 'distance'
between you and the passenger while still giving pleasant and helpful service. If a
passenger is annoying there will probably be a really pleasant one next time.
OHS Awareness for NSW Taxi Operators: Information Guide
NSW Taxi Industry Association Page 65