NYC had the same problems. Plus drivers who didn't speak English (or pretended not to), didn't know the city, or purposely took you on long, roundabout routes to collect a higher fare. Oh, and they were usually distracted. It was not uncommon for the driver to be talking to family/friends on the phone for the entire ride, or even watching television while driving (I reported the television driver to the Taxi & Limousine Commission, but I have no idea what the outcome was.)