The recent attacks on New York City car service drivers―in which two people were killed―caused the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers to warn city authorities that they will sharply reduce service to areas with high crime rates. “We do not have any other choice,” declared Fernando Mateo, president of the federation. “Drivers should not have to risk their lives.”

Mateo said his organization’s plan, called “Silent night,” will cover the following areas: Inwood, Washington Heights and Harlem in Manhattan; Soundview, South Bronx, Woodlawn and University Heights in the Bronx; Williamsburg, Sunset Park, Bedford-Stuyvesant and East New York in Brooklyn; and Jackson Heights, Corona, Jamaica and Flushing in Queens.

“Silent night” will last from 10:00 p.m. to 6: 00 a.m.

Are the actions of the car services legitimate?

The law requires yellow taxis to pick up a fare in any section of the city. Alan Fromberg, press secretary of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, said these requirements do not apply to car-service drivers because they work on pre-order, arriving to collect the fare at a specified location. Drivers can choose to refuse an assignment.

Маtео insists on increasing security for his members. In 2000, after 10 drivers were murdered, under then-mayor Rudy Giuliani, the Police Department created a special, 300-person division to protect car service drivers. Furthermore, automobiles were required to be equipped with either bulletproof partitions or video cameras. Маtео noted that the staff of the special division has been halved. It also would not hurt, he hinted, to receive compensation for the installation of partitions and video cameras from the city treasury.

“We understand that our decision will create serious inconveniences for the inhabitants of economically hard-hit areas,” agrees Маtео, “but it is in these areas that we are robbed, attacked and even killed. What are we supposed to do?” A fair question that demands a concrete answer. After all, we only live once.