A taxi driver from Tallinn, who has been working in the industry for 18 years, shared her experience of a disturbing encounter with a client last week while driving for the Bolt platform. On February 9, she received a trip request from a 70-year-old Estonian-speaking man. As she evaluated the route options using Waze, she chose the faster route, which led to the client's irritation. The situation escalated when the client unexpectedly became aggressive and began to yell at her, which included insulting her and making derogatory remarks.

According to police statements, they were made aware of the incident but found no sufficient evidence to launch a criminal investigation against the passenger. The taxi driver, Natalja, expressed her shock at how quickly the situation could deteriorate, noting that she had never experienced such aggression in her years of driving. The incident raises concerns about the safety of taxi drivers, particularly those working with ride-sharing platforms, and highlights the need for better support and protection measures for drivers in similar situations.

This incident illustrates the challenges faced by taxi drivers in maintaining safe work conditions while dealing with unpredictable passenger behavior. The lack of legal recourse in this case may discourage drivers from reporting such incidents in the future, creating a troubling stigma around their safety and well-being while on the job. As the situation stands, the taxi community in Estonia may need to advocate for more robust support from law enforcement and transport regulatory bodies to ensure their protection.