To The Editor,

The daily number of accidents and incidents involving taxi vehicles in Monsey and throughout Rockland County has reached an alarming level. What we are witnessing is no longer an occasional issue — it has become a serious public safety crisis affecting our streets, our families, and our community.

While school bus drivers are held to strict state standards, including annual medical certifications and extensive background and safety requirements, many local taxi drivers appear to operate with little meaningful oversight or accountability. Families rely on these services every single day to transport spouses, children, and elderly relatives, yet incident after incident continues making headlines.

Recent cases reported by Monsey Scoop include:

• A taxi driver arrested on DWI and child endangerment charges following an incident on Route 59.
• A Spring Valley taxi driver indicted in a violent kidnapping case.
• A taxi overturning after crashing into parked vehicles on Bluefield Drive, injuring two people.
• A driver charged in a fatal hit-and-run and concealment case after a man was found dead beneath a pickup truck.
• A Ramapo taxi driver ticketed twice in the same day for unlicensed operation.

This pattern cannot continue being ignored.

Beyond the physical danger to the public, there is also a growing financial burden placed on local residents. As accidents increase and insurance claims rise, insurance premiums for private residents throughout the area continue climbing. Taxpayers and families are effectively paying the price for negligence and lack of enforcement.

Taxi company owners must also take responsibility. Every vehicle and every driver operating under a company’s logo should represent safety, professionalism, and accountability. If a company is putting drivers on the road, the company owner should ensure those drivers are properly licensed, properly insured, and operating safely at all times.

Rockland County officials must take immediate action to establish stronger oversight and enforcement before someone else is seriously injured or killed. If local municipalities cannot provide adequate public transportation, they must at minimum properly regulate the transportation systems already operating throughout the community.

Our families, our streets, and our wallets cannot afford more “business as usual.”

Chaim Fried
Monsey

The views expressed in this letter do not necessarily represent those of Monsey Scoop. Have an opinion you’d like to share? Send it to us for review.