By Elizabeth Harvey Taxi drivers say they should have the right to arm themselves after the third attack on a taxi owner in three weeks took place this week.

Tougher sentences and harsher punishments should be meted out by the courts to deter would-be attackers, they added.

Shortly after midnight on Monday, four youths threatened a 42-year-old driver at knife point and demanded money following a ride to Bailey's Bay.

The driver escaped unhurt and the thieves fled empty handed.

But taxi drivers yesterday expressed concern at the spate of recent attacks which has left them feeling particularly vulnerable.

On December 26 a knife wielding passenger attempted to stab a taxi driver in Sandys Parish. Five days earlier, four male passengers attacked and robbed a 65-year-old taxi driver after he picked them up on Front Street.

Police have not indicated whether the attacks are related.

In a street survey by The Royal Gazette yesterday, Front Street taxi drivers, who asked not to be named, gave their opinions on the issue.

At present, they said there is little they can do to ensure their safety other than exercise discretion in picking up fares and avoiding trouble spots.

"They should allow drivers to have something to protect themselves,'' said one driver.

"Right now, if a driver gets into trouble, he has nothing to protect himself.

It's just like being attacked in your own house.'' Another admitted it was almost impossible for cab drivers to identify potential attackers.

"When you pick a guy up you don't know what he's got in his head. He might be a nice, smiling fellow. The question is, you don't know who is shady. What can you do?'' he asked.

A meeting of the Bermuda Taxi Owners Association this month will focus on the issue of safety.

Last month, BTOA spokesman Mr. Lee Tucker said the issue of installing protective shields had been raised.

But surveyed drivers yesterday ditched the idea saying shields could make matters worse and would be a slur on Bermuda's image.

"Shields aren't going to help, they just come around to your window and snatch the money out of your hand,'' said one cab driver who has been in operation for over 30 years.'' Another said: "They would kill our image, we're dealing with tourists, many of whom come from the east coast. They are used to shields so they would think, `Oh, they have that problem here too'.'' "I don't think it's a good idea. This is a small community and everyone is basically related. It would take from our image.'' A third driver who has operated his cab for seven years said installing shields could even increase the number of "runaways''.

"A shield could alleviate the problem but it could make it worse,'' he said.

"If you have a shield it would make it easier for a passenger in the back to just pop out and go.'' "I am a little concerned,'' he added. "I don't know what can be done. But you can't ride around with a security guard in your car.'' Instead he suggested criminals should face harsher punishments.

"A lesson has to be taught,'' he said. "There should be more stringent measures and stiffer sentences for criminals.'' "I don't want to discriminate against any passenger, but on given occasions and given times I won't pick up fares. I try not to discriminate but if there is an area giving trouble especially at night, I won't go there. There is not much we can do.''