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Comment by beaglesss | Hacker News Reader

Always carry an object capable of smashing out a window when you ride in a 3rd world taxi

Most cars come with window smashing equipment included! The headrest and seat belt buckle can both be used to break a window: https://carroar.com/how-to-break-a-car-window/

On the off chance car culture in Kenya is anything like in India (which I would not assume by default), at least a decent few will have headrests covered by a seat cover and rear seat belts stuck behind the seat or otherwise unavailable.

No one I know across many, many 3rd world countries has ever done this or recommended it. I suggest learning how to vet the driver before getting into the vehicle. For example, does the driver and car's plates and description match what's in the app?

Why? They don't have child locks on the doors. You're gonna be stuck trying to explain to somebody why you think it's OK to carry around a life hammer when you inevitably have to go through a metal detector. Plus cars in developing countries aren't built as heavily as ones in the west - you could probably just kick the window out if you need to. Just don't wear flip flops everywhere.

You're probably going to be some level of taller/wider/stronger than the driver too if you're a western tourist in a developing country. I've ridden in thousands of developing country cabs. Most drivers are normal people just trying to get by and won't try anything.

I was trapped by an armed man once when I was a kid and ever since then I have always had a backup plan to escape. Most taxi drivers are honest good people, some aren't. The only people that have jammed me up were US CBP, in my experience foreign customs knows their country is fucked and will let most non-gun metal objects slide. It's mostly nanny states that jam you up for a hammer.

Don't know about developing countries but in the US (Boston) I have encountered cabs with the rear door lock mechanism broken so that we couldn't get out until the driver unlocked the doors. Luckily I wasn't by myself but it was creepy.

How does this help when traveling at speed? I’m trying to come to terms with the threat (kidnapped?) and response (break a window and then what)?

I admit my taxi experience is limited to Mexico, Paraguay, Iraq, Syria, and the Philippines. But in each one of those traffic control was so broken you couldn't have gone more than 2 blocks off course without the chaos forcing a stop or slowdown.

gotta include the US in this as well lmao

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