How hard is it to become a taxi driver?

They are also victim to more non-fatal assaults (184 per 1,000 cabbies) than any other occupation with the exception of police (306 per 1,000) and private security guards (218 per 1,000). "Many, many drivers here have been attacked, and several have lost one or two fingers because they were shot," said a cabbie in Richmond, California. "One man I know was shot and paralyzed, but he feels lucky to even be alive."