Taxi Driver - Personal requirements
Kaitaraiwa Waka Kawe Pāhihi
Skills & knowledge
Taxi drivers need to have:
- excellent driving skills
- knowledge of the Road Code, defensive-driving techniques and relevant transport regulations
- good knowledge of local places, street names and the correct routes to take
- knowledge of events happening in the area they work in
- good communication skills
- an understanding of basic car maintenance, so they can care for their vehicle
- maths skills for calculating fares and change for customers.
Owner-drivers need to have good business sense, and accounting and mechanical skills help cut down expenses.
Personal Qualities
Taxi drivers must be punctual and honest. They need to be friendly, polite and able to relate well to a wide range of customers.
Taxi drivers also need to be responsible, alert and patient, as they often drive along busy and congested roads, and are responsible for the safety of their passengers.
Taxi drivers need to be able to get on with a range of people
Customer service is all part of being a taxi driver
"You don't need to be over-talkative; as long as you're polite, come across as a decent sort of person and know your area, most people are quite happy."
Lilly Taopua - Shuttle Driver
Physical Requirements
Taxi drivers need to have good hearing, reflexes, hand-eye co-ordination and eyesight (with or without corrective lenses) so that they can drive safely in busy areas.
To retain their passenger (P) endorsement, which allows them to carry paying customers, they must pass a medical exam every five years or more frequently if they have a medical condition that may affect their driving.
Taxi drivers must have a clean and tidy appearance.
"You have to keep yourself fit and pass a medical exam. It's like your car – you need to keep your car up and running and you need to keep yourself up and running."
Lilly Taopua - Shuttle Driver
Updated
October 2008
