出國遊歴除非是参加旅行團，每到一個新的地方由於不熟識路途，都需要依賴計程車(Taxi)才不至於迷路。計程車對初到乍臨的旅客的重要性是可想而知的。這次重遊葡萄牙首都里斯本(Lisboa)，由機場搭乘計程車到酒店去。行車不久之後司機就說汽車的計程儀突然失靈，車費的指標顯示出9歐羅(Euro)之後就停止不動。他說全程車費大約20歐羅，我不假思索就同意了。汽車繼續走，由於當時下着微微細雨，交通十分阻塞，行車緩慢，司機須要左穿右拐才可避過塞車把我們送到目的地去。為了補償他在時間上的損失，我多付5歐羅當作小費。司機報以燦爛的笑容向我道別。
午後，四個由香港來這裡和我們會合的朋友相繼抵步。他們也搭乘計程車來到酒店，車資按計程儀算是40歐羅，朋友多付了5歐羅當作小費，司機笑得合不上嘴揚長而去。
晚飯過後，六個人在酒店的大堂裡七嘴八舌地去談論首天的旅遊經歴，不覺扯到車資的事。根據酒店的職員說：機場和酒店的距離只有六公里，正常車資是9歐羅，加上行李運費也不可能超出12歐羅。這表示司機在計程儀上動了腦筋，存意欺騙乘客。朋友以為只有他們遭受欺騙，誰知我們亦屬受害者之一，只是損失得較少罷了。
不少司機慣性地欺騙外國乘客，還認那是天經地義的事。從里斯本到西班牙的馬拉加(Malaga)，我們一行六人分乘兩部計程車由機場往酒店去。兩個司機登車後用無線對講機不停與對方通話，似乎在討論些什麼。抵步後兩人異口同聲地說車資30歐羅是固定的，不按計程儀收費，我們提出抗議亦全無效果，只得照付如儀。在里斯本的教訓教會我們：對耍弄顧客的司機不能過於寬容，所以便把這次的的小費給免了，可算是吃一塹長一智！
被職業司機欺騙的事以前我在其它地方也碰到過。有一年前在匈牙利首都布達佩斯市(Budapest)搭乘計程車去聽音樂會，付了匈幣7,000元(Forint)的車資。散場之後亦召了一輛計程車送我們返回。車行不到半途車資已超過7,000元，我肯定司機暗裡作弊，所以決心不能被他魚肉，到步後先讓三位女士下車，我一聲不響地箭步飛向酒店的接待處去求助，結果20,000元的車費我只付了一半就了事。
在希臘的雅典(Athens)也曾經與計程車司機發生過爭執。那裡的司機改裝計程儀以濫取車資，有些人還喜歡沿途兜客，各司各法，層出不窮，令你覺得無辜地被蒙騙而大感不快。
一個國家的聲譽不知要費多少心血才可建立起來，無良的計程車司機却了私利不斷去欺騙外來的遊客，罔顧個人及國家的形象。為保障公眾利益，拓展旅遊事業的機構和其他執法部門必須嚴厲惩處這種有損國體的違法行為。
黄啓樟 2010/3/7 (2010/6/3 現代日報 )
I heard of this kind of stories. So I'm a bit nervous taking taxi in a foreign country. I prefer to take the public transport like train and bus. But not all places are reachable that way.
ReplyDeleteHi, Uncle David, how are you? I read your article regarding taxi drivers. There are a few tips that I would like to share with you. I usually do my 'homework' before every trip. Firstly, I go to the international airport's website of that country. You can find any information that you need as a traveller. When I am not going with a tour, I have to be very careful of certain situations I might be in as a total stranger in a new place especially for a female traveller. The locals can easily tell that we are the vulnerable victims once we step out the airport as words are written all over our face 'tired and naive'. Usually, there is a counter for taxi/airport shuttle somewhere inside the airport and you can find their location if you go on the airport's website. When I went to VN, I went straight to that counter and I only paid a flat rate to any hotel and the staff there took me to a taxi, it was much safer this way than get one myself, because I didn't know if he was a real taxi driver or a serial killer. The same way as I went to HK or Singapore, I took the airport shuttle. I didn't have to worry about the traffic jam or like the taxi driver you met at your trip. Sometimes in that website, they also mentioned the approximate cost of a taxi drive to the city, then you have in mind what the average cost will be. With the technology today, it does make our lives much easier. Take care.
ReplyDeletejen huynh