Originally Posted by
kevino
When taking taxis in Bangkok, I'm not worried about my safety so much as having an unpleasant experience with them (the driver not putting on the meter, driving needlessly fast, or not being able to communicate with them, etc.). However, I've also had those bad experiences (some very bad) in San Francisco and New York.
I've also had many very good experiences talking to Bangkok taxi drivers (many more very good experiences than bad experiences).
It's that uncertainty with taxis that prompt people to take Grab or other services, even if they cost more. Taxis are usually cheaper and with less wait time in Bangkok.
Agree - I am perfectly fine to hail a taxi off the street in front of my office at Khlong Toei intersection at midnight, which granted is not the nicest of places at night. I would hesitate doing that in similar places in most western cities!
My main nuisance with Grab drivers is that none of them have a clue about directions and follow their (not always smart) GPS blindly, even if it would lead them off a pier and into the Chao Phraya!