The union representing Ottawa taxi drivers says more needs to be done to protect drivers after a brutal early morning attack put a 40-year-old driver in hospital with serious head injuries.

"It goes back to the big debate about what really is needed in terms of safety to protect the drivers or the passengers," said Ahmed El-Khatib, a spokesperson for Ottawa's taxi union.

Abdurazik Abdullahi, a Blue Line taxi driver, was attacked by at least two men in an area near Elgin Street and Gladstone Avenue at about 1 a.m. Friday. Police said the incident appeared to follow an argument, possibly about a fare.

Abdullahi suffered experienced injuries to the left side of his brain and his jaw, the taxi union said. He is now out of a coma, but remains in critical condition and unable to speak.

"He's in a great deal of pain, just visible from looking at him you can tell how severe the blows he received to his head," El-Khatib told CTV Ottawa after visiting his friend in hospital.

"This family person does not need to end up like this. He's not some kind of young muscle man that's going out looking for trouble. He's out to earn a living and he doesn't deserve this at all."

Police said the suspects fled the scene. So far, no arrests have been made.

The taxi union says a series of recent assaults means more needs to be done to protect cab drivers in the capital.

"This is not the first one and we have a great feeling amongst ourselves that this will not be the last one," said El-Khatib, who has three artificial teeth after a 1994 beating.

Surveillance cameras are now mandatory in all taxis. Prior to a city decision to make security cameras mandatory, the taxi union proposed installing protective shields as an alternative.

"(A camera) is not preventing any crime from taking place. It's only registering or keeping track of the incident after it takes place," El-Khatib said.

But Hanif Patni, president of Coventry Connections, which operates Blue Line, said other incidents have resulted in arrests thanks to images from the cameras.

He called the industry safe, considering that Ottawa taxi drivers move about 20,000 passengers each day.

"Is it going to happen again? I can guarantee you it will," Patni told CTV Ottawa. "Is it a relatively contained occurrence? Yes. I think we run a pretty safe taxi industry."

Police are continuing to investigate the Friday morning attack. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call investigators at 613-236-1222 ext. 5166 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-TIPS.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Natalie Pierosara