Taxi Driver Online

Course puts cabbies on road to success Feb 15 2005

By Duncan Gibbons


Taxi drivers are being invited to charm school to boost a town's image among tourists and daytrippers.

Officials believe cheerful cabbies make a good first impression on the hordes of people who visit historic Rugby every day.

Drivers are told they are ambassadors for the town and that a smiling face, loads of local knowledge and a clean car are priceless.

Karen Herrington, aged 49, of Rugby, was one of eight private hire and hackney cabbies who attended the first one-day course last week.

She said: "You only get one chance at a first impression - if you are miserable and your car is a state then people are not going to want to come back.

"It's good to think from the point of view of the customer.

"We also learned about all the attractions in Rugby, like Rugby School, the museum and art gallery, and the bars and restaurants, so we can tell visitors what to do and where to go."

More of the free one-day Welcome Host courses, devised by Heart of England Tourism, are now being planned.

Cllr Gordon Collett, borough development spokesman, said: "First impressions are the longest-lasting ones and cabbies need to be ambassadors of the borough.

"No one likes someone who is surly - if you have a smile and a welcoming voice it goes a long way. We are not suggesting Rugby's taxi drivers are unwelcoming but nobody is perfect and there is always room for improvement."

All successful participants in the scheme are given a Welcome Host Taxi sticker for their vehicle.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Well that will have they flocking to it.

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IDFIMH

But its still a good idea Sussex innit.