At least one concerned citizen will not be calling a taxi anymore in the wake of reports stating police are questioning local cab drivers in their Highway of Tears investigation.
The mother and frequent cab rider is exploring alternatives given that some drivers have refused to provide requested DNA samples.
"I understand given the DNA sample was voluntary, but not everybody chose to do that. It leaves you wondering about safety," said the woman, who would not go on record with her identity.
"I would feel fine if everybody gave their sample and let everyone see they are all above board. If everybody does it, we aren't left dangling."
Provincial RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Annie Linteau said there is nothing to be concerned about regarding Prince George taxi drivers.
"We haven't ID'd taxi drivers as persons of interest," she said. "We believe these taxi drivers may have had some form of contact with the victims, and that could be they were in the area at the time, or they knew the victims by name, or they were familiar with the victims, any number of things, not that anyone is a suspect."
The concerned woman said she has a teenaged daughter who sometimes takes a taxi to see her, and she has always had concerns about those rides.
"Whenever you jump into a vehicle with a stranger there is some risk, and that is who a taxi driver is -- a stranger," she said. "You are relying on these people to transport you. I go to the hospital for treatment sometimes and when I come out, I'm not feeling very well, so you just hope they are trustworthy. I don't mean to sound paranoid but as a female travelling alone, there is a concern."
She was not comforted by police when she called them to ask about her level of risk.
One officer's suggestion was that she take the bus, but that isn't as direct and forces her to walk alone after dark for a distance, she said, so again she felt vulnerable.
"I'm going to have to look into other services. Very much so," she said.
Attempts to reach the B.C. Taxi Association's local director and provincial spokesperson were not successful.
