

I've been a NYC taxi driver for 23 years. The Hailo app is one of the worst things I've seen for our industry
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Taxis in New York City. Photograph: Paul Owen
Taxis in New York City. Photograph: Paul Owen Photograph: Paul Owen for the Guardian

I've been a New York City taxi driver for 23 of the past 33 years. I know a bit about what it's like to navigate some of the most hectic roads (and people) on the planet.

Recently, a new app called Hailo has come on the scene to hail taxis electronically. It sounds great and its creators tout it as a godsend, but the reality is we don't need this app, and it's starting to be dangerous for drivers and this city.

Let me put it this away: anyone can be both a data input clerk and a taxi driver. If I have a data input job during the week and I also drive a taxi on weekends, this wouldn't concern the public. Were I to combine the two occupations and do them simultaneously, it should be a matter of serious concern. If 14,000 drivers (or more at peak times) are being encouraged to do this with the approval of the municipal authorities, it is an even greater concern. Yet this is exactly what is happening in New York City, and the local media and mayoral candidates have little to say about it and likely are oblivious to it.

At the start of every shift, the Hailo driver taps an icon that supposedly commits him or her not to use the app unless the taxi is "standing" (defined as the taxi not being in motion or in parking gear). But that's a joke.

I drove for Hailo for a few days. Like many people, I was intrigued. But the app forces the driver to use a telephone while driving and to input data, too. In other words, it's yet another distraction that takes taxi drivers' eyes off the road.

What I really don't understand is why Hailo is even needed, especially in New York City. There is hardly a taxi shortage in the city. In fact, you can probably hail a taxi on your own in the city faster than you can get a McDonald's meal. Who but an "app addict" would summon a taxi with his or her smart phone while an armada of empty taxis parades past?

At those times taxis and livery cars are really scarce (such as when it's raining or at shift change time) Hailo is still useless. Why would a taxi driver pass up people waiving and whistling and shouting to him in order to answer a Hailo call? The only reason to ignore potential customers and answer Hailo is if a driver is trying to impress the Hailo management.

Hailo instituted a point system for drivers – complete with little badges of bronze, silver and golden colors and other "recognition". But let's be honest, drivers do this for money, not badges.

Hailo's business model is to get "everyone" on board meaning the the Taxi Limousine Commission and the media, to generate "inevitability" and attain an unstoppable critical mass. If the authorities continue enabling this plan without even addrssing whether the system is even needed in our city and whether it can be operated safely, we will all be worse off.

In London Hailo clips 10% of their drivers' intake. Yes, Hailo's practices (and those of other app services like Uber) are a matter of concern to drivers. I have yet to see or hear any praise for Hailo or other such apps by drivers.

The app is also often not accurate in directing the driver to the prospective passenger causing situations in which the driver is under pressure to back up or execute an illegal U-turn. Just because something looks close on a map doesn't mean it is when you take into account road work and one way streets, among other obstacles. The GPS map used does not have voice capabilities, which means that the driver must be both watching the map and the road at the same time if he or she finds the need for a map.

Not only does the app frequently give the driver innacurate and useless information regarding the location of his passenger, but more seriously, it encourages, even forces, the taxi driver to engage in unlawful actions while he or she is driving.

In New York distracted driving is said to be a serious matter, strict new laws are in place along with a draconian step system for taxi drivers, yet the city authorities are encouraging the use of this app. Hailo already has demonstrated its contempt for law and regulation by operating despite a court restraining order (since overridden) in New York City. Now other app entrepeneurs are following suit and attacking the foundation of the taxi industry in New York and Los Angeles by charging even lower prices.

Safety is the main issue.

Hailo representatives deny any issues, but the app requires drivers to answer and make phone calls and fiddle around with their driver app while driving.

I encourage journalists and citizens whose testimony might be more respected than my own to spend a few hours riding "shotgun" with a Hailo driver without Hailo's knowledge. Perhaps a monitoring camera would do. See if this is really the future you would want for yourself and your family and your city.

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