A Newport taxi driver has spoken out after a group of youths on bikes allegedly threw a raw egg directly into his face while he was working near the city’s railway station.
The driver says the incident left him unable to work for a period afterwards, and he wants to warn other drivers in the area to stay alert.
According to the driver, he was going about his normal shift near Newport railway station when the group approached on bicycles. One of the youths launched a raw egg through his vehicle window, striking him in the face. What might sound like a prank to some had very real consequences for the driver, who says the shock and physical impact left him shaken and unfit to continue working.
Speaking about the ordeal, the driver made clear he does not want others to go through the same thing. Taxi drivers often work alone, at all hours, and are regularly exposed to situations most people never have to deal with. An attack like this, even one involving something as seemingly trivial as an egg, can have a serious impact on someone’s ability to do their job and feel safe while doing it.
Newport has seen ongoing concerns from local drivers and transport workers about antisocial behaviour in and around the station area. Groups of young people on bikes have been flagged before as a source of trouble in parts of the city, and incidents like this one add to the frustration felt by those who work in the area late at night or during unsociable hours.
For taxi drivers, the car is their workplace. An unexpected object thrown through the window is not just unpleasant, it is a genuine safety risk. A driver startled or temporarily blinded while behind the wheel could easily cause an accident, putting themselves and the public in danger.
The driver is now calling for greater awareness of the issue and hopes that by speaking out, it might encourage others who have had similar experiences to come forward. He is also urging parents to be aware of where their children are and what they are getting up to, particularly in the evenings around busy transport hubs.
Local taxi drivers already deal with plenty of challenges on the job, from difficult passengers to long unsociable hours. Incidents of deliberate targeting like this one make an already tough job feel even more unsafe, and many in the trade feel that low-level antisocial behaviour does not always get the attention it deserves from authorities.
Anyone with information about the incident near Newport railway station is encouraged to come forward.