Unethical Human Experimentation and Director, Division of Compliance Oversight at Office for Human Research Protections answer

·         Unethical Human Experimentation

I believe that the requirement to use interior partitions in taxis is a flawed experiment to discover IF partitions could be useful in protecting cab drivers from assailants. The endeavor to reduce cab driver murders failed. A study conducted by NCSU, funded by USDOT NHTSA and USDH&HS contributions evaluated the viability of using partitions in taxis. It concluded partition expenditures were outweighed by benefits in reduced assault injury. What was ignored was a 400% increase in cab driver murder and a 450% increase in injury from collisions. Some argue with me that this is an experiment. I feel it is. Partitions were never used for robbery or assault protection before they were used in taxis. I have much more. Is this of interest to you?

Steve Crowell

·         Dear Mr. Crowell, As we discussed in 2012, in general we only have authority over research that is funded by HHS. You may wish to contact DOT again, or contact your Senator or Congressperson.

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·         Kristina Borror Director, Division of Compliance Oversight at Office for Human Research Protections

I repeat, H&HS funded research on taxi partition use in the 1997 NCSU study by John Randolph Stone.