Monday, February 4

Law or Religion?

For reasons which will become obvious I have had to be very careful how I worded this. No insult or slur is intended to any one race or religion. But this is a true story of an awkward predicament I was placed in. The fare was from the Furness General Hospitals staff quarters and was made up of two young ladies and a boy of seven or eight year’s age and a toddler of two or three. Because neither of the children was old or tall enough to legally ride in the front seat I naturally expected one of the lady’s to ride up front. This happened as expected, and we were just about to set off when a chap rushed over and tapped on the passenger window. The lady rolled down the window and a few stern words were exchanged in a language I couldn’t understand. The lady then got out of the taxi and exchanged seats with the young lad. I turned round to explain that he couldn’t sit up front but was met with blank faces. The young lad then tugged my sleeve and explained that he was the only one who spoke English. He pleaded for me to let him stay up front and explained what was going on. It seems that the man had reminded the lady that for religious reasons she could not sit up front with a male who was not related. The young lad was obviously embarrassed and like myself was in an awkward situation. Now then what do I do? Do I insult their obviously deeply held religious beliefs? Or do I risk breaking the UK traffic laws? What would you do? As I weighed the situation up I could see that the young lad was looking very worried and on the verge of tears. That clinched it” fasten your seatbelt “I said, after all don’t they say that laws are there to be broken eh! You know I found myself almost wishing that we would be stopped by the police. In these days of political correctness, and having to be in tune with religious sensibilities, just which way would it have gone I wonder?

6 comments:

Dogbait said...

There wouldn't have a problem if the cop was as sensible as you, Bob

bob mullen said...

Db: Truth is if I was truly sensible I should have told them that they needed two cabs.

Jeff said...

For better or for worse no-one is above the law of the land. You were breaking the law and quite probably the rules of your taxi licence.

If you'd been caught you could have had your licence removed.

What would have happened to you if you'd had an accident and the child had gone through the windscreen because of the ineffectiveness of the seatbelt. Say he had sustained serious injuries, the consequences of that certainly make me shudder I don't know about you.

If it had been me then two taxis.

bob mullen said...

Tom: Aye maybe you are right, but whats done is done and no going back. Decisions have to be made sometimes on the spur of the moment.

bigbikerbob said...

Hi Bob, I really dont know what I would have done in that situation?, all I can say is that all races, creeds, religious beliefs etc, should, when in Britain expect to have to follow the law,which while you are in britain should apply across the board.

bob mullen said...

Bob: aye thats the way it should be but we both know that it doesn't always work out that way eh!