A real nightmare is to drive a cab into black areas, or even to pick up blacks. Many cab drivers avoid them, even black drivers!
Black cab drivers are not shy about the extent to which they avoid those areas.
Ironically, the only time I ever got attacked was driving in an unfamiliar area within an upper middle class suburb. Turned the wrong corner, and ended up in the middle of the street surrounded by what had to be 200 “youths”. We had to stop to avoid hitting two girls who walked right in front of us. This made the locals angry, by the looks of them.
Fortunately, we were in a car, and they weren’t. Did get hit in the head with a small rock, though.
Honestly, if my friend had hesitated, I have little doubt we were as good as dead.
Great news from Titusville, Florida!