Cities with camera-equipped taxicabs experience reduced taxicab driver homicide rates: United States, 1996–2010

Abstract

Background Driving a taxicab remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, with leading homicide rates. Although safety equipment designed to reduce robberies exists, it is not clear what effect it has on reducing taxicab driver homicides. Findings Taxicab driver homicide crime reports for 1996 through 2010 were collected from 20 of the largest cities (>200,000) in the United States: 7 cities with cameras installed in cabs, 6 cities with partitions installed, and 7 cities with neither cameras nor partitions. Poisson regression modeling using generalized estimating equations provided city taxicab driver homicide rates while accounting for serial correlation and clustering of data within cities. Two separate models were constructed to compare (1) cities with cameras installed in taxicabs versus cities with neither cameras nor partitions and (2) cities with partitions installed in taxicabs versus cities with neither cameras nor partitions. Cities with cameras installed in cabs experienced a significant reduction in homicides after cameras were installed (adjRR = 0.11, CL 0.06-0.24) and compared to cities with neither cameras nor partitions (adjRR = 0.32, CL 0.15-0.67). Cities with partitions installed in taxicabs experienced a reduction in homicides (adjRR = 0.78, CL 0.41-1.47) compared to cities with neither cameras nor partitions, but it was not statistically significant. Conclusions The findings suggest cameras installed in taxicabs are highly effective in reducing homicides among taxicab drivers. Although not statistically significant, the findings suggest partitions installed in taxicabs may be effective.

Signature dish: Triangulation from data signatures to examine the role of security in falling crime

“…Banks and commercial stores, buses and taxis have all introduced an array of improved security measures to reduce robberies. A recent US study demonstrated that taxi-driver homicides fell in the 1990s in those cabs with security cameras installed, relative to a control group without (Chaumont Menendez et al, 2014). Older readers will remember the days when bus drivers carried a large bag of fare monies – the days before correct-payment by machine and a secure drop-box for cash.…”

Systematic literature review on the effects of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions at the workplace

“…The majority of studies showed an interven-tion effect with a pooled estimate for all legislation to reduce injuries (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.86). Studies with miscellaneous outcomes included ergonomic regulations on physical exposures (37), exposure to ethylene oxide (39) and the effect of workplace exposure limits for short latency respiratory disease (43), incidence of CTS following a program for ergonomics (40), regulation to reduce latex and rubber glove allergens on skin diseases (42), and finally the effect of cameras in taxis on homicide among taxicab drivers (41). The studies of miscellaneous outcomes all favored the intervention, but they were too heterogeneous for pooling them into the meta-analysis.…”

Work-Related Violent Deaths in the US Taxi and Limousine Industry 2003 to 2013

“…Cameras and partitions, two major types of safety equipment, were found to be distributed in geographically different regions among the largest US cities. 10,11 Generally, cameras were found to be mandated by city ordinance in the West and company policy in the South while partitions were primarily mandated in the Northeast and Midwest. 10,11 Of further concern is this uneven distribution of two key types of recommended safety measures.…”

“…10,11 Generally, cameras were found to be mandated by city ordinance in the West and company policy in the South while partitions were primarily mandated in the Northeast and Midwest. 10,11 Of further concern is this uneven distribution of two key types of recommended safety measures. There is no current information available at the national level that identifies implementation of the recommended safety measures at the driver/car level.…”