As we have mentioned many times here, as a tourist it is always best to charter a legal red plated taxi rather than use a route taxi. The route taxi system was essentially created with the local Jamaican population in mind, and even the locals are careful when using it when it gets late at night. You will find very few Jamaicans taking a route taxi that they dont personally know at the late hour that this incident occurred (11pm), and many have pre-arranged drivers to pick them up at that time (thus chartering the taxi).
When you charter a taxi, there is no chance of this incident occurring as you would be the only passengers in the vehicle until you arrive at your destination. Route taxis are the "mass transit" for the rural communities and are obligated to pick up passengers along their defined route as this driver was obligated. As long as there is room in the vehicle, they will stop and pick them up.
