Trying to flee from a taxi without paying their fare did not end well for two young women in Rewa.

This act in local slang is called “step taxi” and the Fiji Taxi Association said that this was a common occurrence in the country.

Association general secretary Ashwin Lal said such acts were more common in the Central Division.

He likened this act to stealing.

“A taxi driver earns his living from the fare incurred for the journey and deliberately not paying this fare is stealing from the driver,” he said.

“This type of things happens in areas where there are shortcuts or routes where the culprit can make their getaway.

“Some drivers know areas where this has happened to them and they avoid these areas.”

In the incident last week, the two young women from Waivou Village hired a taxi from Nausori to the village, amassing a $15 fare.

According to a villager, the girls ran from the taxi and hid in the village.

The villagers of Waivou then helped look for the girls.

The message from the villagers was to refrain from doing such acts because drivers were earning an honest living.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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