10 Weird Rules That Only Ever Work In TV & Movies
2. Taxi Drivers Are Cool With Following Other Cars
The bad guy has escaped! He's got himself a hostage or some stolen loot and is in a getaway vehicle. Our hero is behind them but they don't have any mode of transport. Then, in the corner of their eye, they spot a yellow cab parked conveniently to the side.
"Taxi! Follow that car!" our hero screams as they climb in the back.
At some point during the ride, our hero must have drawn their police badge or told the driver they're behind the wheel for a good guy, but there isn't anything in the Taxi Driver's Code of Conduct that compels them to follow other vehicles discreetly (or sometimes aggressively).
What must the drivers be thinking in that scenario? Better yet, it's curious for our heroes to assume that if they leap into the back of a car and command the driver to put their foot down, they'll comply with no questions asked.
This has failed on occasion like in Taken, when Liam Neeson assumed a cab driver would do what they're told while The Neeson beats a human trafficker in the back seat.
Overall it's a trope that we're seeing less of. Maybe it's a service Uber has started providing? Stalker Premium.