Taxi drivers encounter a spectrum of humanity on a daily basis (read: us), sometimes behaving its worst, most of which make them feel disrespected and worthless. No one’s claiming cab drivers are flawless (you’ll always find a shady character here and there, in every industry), but most of them are really trying to do right by their customers.

? Springfield Yellow Cab has been your trusted taxi provider for years, making sure your transportation needs are met. Whenever you need a taxi near me, our team’s there. To book a taxi, please call us at 703-451-2255 or complete our reservation form. Whether you need airport transfer, door to door transportation, wheelchair accessible cabs, round trips, hourly service, a business ride or you want to make sure your favorite senior is traveling comfortably, Springfield Yellow Cab will make sure you get the best of everything. Check out the full list of Springfield services HERE. Choose your preferred vehicle and enjoy the ride!

You Were Saying Something About Kindness?

Oh, yes. When the holiday season hits, everyone starts talking about being kind to one another, about giving, showing support, understanding one’s reasons before there’s any judgment passed, helping out. Unfortunately, it feels like this is the dialogue that’s trending solely during holiday time. The moment Christmas lights are down, everyone goes back to being too busy to care, too busy to be respectful, too busy to make an effort. Let’s try and change that, shall we?

Read more: Make the Most out of the Last Week of November in Fairfax County (With Springfield Yellow Cab)

Here are 4 things you should stop doing immediately if you don’t want to offend your taxi driver:

Don’t Close the Partition Separating the Front and Back Seats

The first thing some customers do the moment they enter a cab is say their destination and close the partition between the front and back seats. While you may think all you are doing is “wanting your privacy” you are actually indirectly offending your driver. It’s rude. What is the driver thinking? That they smell bad, are unworthy of sharing space with you, that you are disgusted and/or don’t want to engage in a conversation, etc. Plus, if you are on the phone while in the back, the partition doesn’t prevent sounds from being overheard, so – if you are doing it to have a conversation in private, think twice.

Instead: Leave the partition open and tell your driver if something’s bothering you (i.e., you don’t feel like having a conversation). It’s that easy.

Read more: Why Booking Taxis is Making Our Lives Easier

Don’t Be a Casual Bigot and Slur Racist/Homophobic/Religion-Based Comments

When you enter a cab, and someone who isn’t your ethnic/religious/sexual background is driving, sustain yourself from negative, hurtful and rude comments on the matter. Yes, everyone’s got the right to their own opinion, but common decency alarms everyone not to be assho*les about it. Hitting your driver with stuff like (these are our top recent “favorite”):

•    “I hope this doesn’t sound racist, but I love when Cubans sell fruit by my house.”
•    “Are you gay? You sure look like it! All gays are sick perverts/I have a friend who’s gay.”
•    “Are you Mexican? I know Mexicans work really hard… selling drugs”
•    “No disrespect but, what are you, like from Wakanda or something?”
•    “Oh, you are Asian… is it true you guys eat dogs and cats, and boil them alive?”
•    “Are you Muslim? Please, don’t stop the taxi in the middle of the ride to pray, I’m in a hurry.”

…and similar comments isn’t very nice behavior.

Instead: If you don’t like riding with a different race to yours, don’t sit in a cab that’s ridden by one. Or, just, restrain from the comments, don’t speak without thinking, and try to reach your destination in peace.

Read more: Take the Longer Way: Why Taking a Cab Is An Instant Therapy Session

Don’t Make out—or More—in the Back of the Cab

Yes, love, lust and all that. Everyone has it hard to keep their hands off their hot date, but don’t you think it’d be better to hold it off till you get home? Drivers see and hear everything that’s happening at the back of the cab, which may be pretty uncomfortable.

Instead: Try to show some respect to your driver by controlling yourselves.

Don’t Backseat Drive

When you enter a cab and start telling your driver which route to take in Fairfax County, how to get to the DCA, IAD or DAA, what vehicle to watch out for, how fast to go even if it meant breaking the law, etc. you are not only being rude but are putting the driver under pressure. Just imagine having someone come in to your job, sit next to you, and keep telling you what to do all day. Not a nice thought, is it?

Springfield Yellow Cab drivers are experienced professionals who know their responsibility is to know the best and fastest routes to passengers’ destinations, and they act accordingly. If they aren’t sure where to go, they’ll ask you.

Instead: If you have a specific route in mind, tell them before you pull away so they can decide if they are okay with the request. Your driver is not a remote control, but you can politely ask for a route to be followed, and they’ll most likely follow it.

Read more: Top 5 Taxi Services and Why Customers Love Them

The more everyone talks about it, the more will the society understand why it’s important to be kind, why you want to have a respectful relationship with people around you, and why being nice matters – whether to your taxi driver or in general.