Big Apple women should think twice before getting into a late-night taxi by themselves — as sexual assaults by drivers are on the rise, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton warned Tuesday.
“One of the areas of concern that we have is particularly young women coming out of clubs and bars, particularly in Manhattan and certain areas of Brooklyn,” the top cop said during an interview on WNYC Radio’s “Brian Lehrer Show.” “They’re by themselves and intoxicated getting into a cab . . . and we’ve seen an increase in assaults in those instances, so we’re encouraging women to adopt the buddy system.”
The number of reported rape cases climbed 6 percent last year, with stranger rapes rising 49 percent, from 110 in 2014 to 164 in 2015, officials have said. Of those stranger rapes, about 9 to 10 percent of them were attacks by cab drivers, a significant increase from years past, according to police.
While there have been two driver-related assaults since Jan. 1 alone, New York women weren’t so supportive of Bratton’s solution.
“The onus again is placed on women to prevent their own assault,” said Erin Mumford, 31, a teacher who lives in Alphabet City. “The onus should be placed on the people perpetrating these crimes.”
Alexa Nadel, 20, a college student in the East Village, called Bratton’s suggestion “smart advice” — but said buddying up isn’t always a realistic strategy.
“You’re not always gonna be with a friend,” she said. “You’ll be alone sometimes. [The remark] is sexist.”