The ‘bullet-absorbing glass’ developed in Turkey could prevent taxi driver deaths

The ‘bullet-absorbing glass’ developed in Turkey could prevent taxi driver deaths

A transparent, lightweight, armoured glass application that separates the driver's cab from the back of the cab has been developed in response to the recent incidents of violence, extortion, harassment and murder of taxi drivers. Prof. Dr. Tarık Baykara from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Doğuş University gave detailed information about the system, which is patented by their university. Stating that they have developed a composite glass with a suitable composition, Prof. Dr. Baykara said, ‘We have developed this as a transparent protection shield that will separate it from the driver's seat and also enable the exchange of money. This system applies to the back of the taxi, but there is also a separate design for the front passenger seat.’

‘We have already implemented this system in London’

Prof. Dr. Baykara said that they applied their study in some neighbourhoods in London, England and said, ‘If there was ballistic glass in the back of the taxi, the passenger getting into the taxi could break it again after firing a few shots, with impacts, etc., and it could become dangerous and damaging. However, in the system we have developed, since the material we use has a layered composite structure, it does not allow the bullet to pass through its layers in a sense, but absorbs it. When fired, there is no danger of cracking, bursting, breaking or opening with impact. In this way, it provides ideal protection.’

‘If the Ministry makes this system compulsory, its cost will also decrease’

Emphasising that the system was not welcomed due to high costs, Prof. Dr. Baykara said:

These types of murders occur 1-2-3 times a year. And they cause great outrage. Then it's all forgotten. However, the government authority we want to address here is the Ministry of Interior. Our Ministry has to make this a basic requirement. One life of our taxi drivers is worth the world. Let's say the ministry applies this to 50 thousand taxis, costs will also go down. If it's made easy for our taxi drivers to meet the costs, lives will be saved. Especially in metropolitan cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, we must make this project come to life. When this happens, our taxi drivers can continue their duties day and night with complete safety. It can be easily applied to every vehicle. As a university, we are ready to implement this system on site in a certain quantity under a pilot project immediately.’

‘We're dealing with all the mess, we have no safety’

Ramazan Alacacı, working as a taxi driver for 25 years,  said, ‘I am retired but I still continue to work as a taxi driver. We have no security of life. We are already seen as third class citizens in the eyes of people. We're dealing with all drunkards, all the scum you can think of. We have no security of life. We have collected signatures for cabs to be built in taxis before, but there is no result. A friend of mine, who used to be a boxer and a Turkish champion, started driving a taxi. In the evening, he came across an immigrant on Vatan Street and took him in his taxi. And there, my mate was stabbed in the heart and died. His 4 children are now in a miserable situation.’

‘We have been asking for years, for it to be compulsory’

Emphasising that taxis should have cabs and bulletproof glass, Alacacı said, ‘Because you cannot protect yourself, especially in the evenings in deserted areas, you cannot do anything. It can lead to robbery, extortion, harassment and murder. This needs to be done and we have been asking for years. I think the Ministry should make this compulsory.’

‘Sometimes I feel uneasy when taking customers’

İrfan Tellioğlu, who has been driving a taxi for 5 years, explained the difficulties he experienced as follows:

‘Certainly, I and our friends may face certain difficulties. We have a tough job. We work at night, but we try to work at the taxistand and pick up passengers from there as much as we can. Because you can never know what sort of passenger they will be. I feel uneasy in certain neighbourhoods when taking customers. Bulletproof glass would be great. Every little thing is a cost to us. Safety is more important to us than anything else. That's why, we would like the ministry to make them compulsory. It will help us a lot.”

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