`culture taxi' training for drivers begins in bkk

[george]

`Culture taxi' training for drivers begins in Bangkok

Road skills, English and good manners

Ploenpote Atthakor

A taxi driver with proper road skills, good manners and who speaks English _ this may sound too good to be true for tourists, but is meant for real.

A ``culture taxi'' project organised by the Culture Ministry, city hall and Rajabhat Institute Suan Sunantha, will be launched in Bangkok today.

The programme will kick off with English classes for 150 taxi drivers, while full courses, to be provided free, will begin next month.

Dilok Boonruengrod, dean of Rajabhat's faculty of public administration, said the project was designed to help taxi drivers deal better with foreigners, as well as provide good service.

There would be several levels of training and those finishing the advanced level would receive a special sticker for their vehicles.

``There will be a session on safe driving given by traffic police. Those attending the course will be able to read maps, give details about tourist attractions and Thai culture,'' he said.

Apart from English, other foreign languages like Japanese and Mandarin would be provided later for those interested.

City clerk Nathanon Thavisin said tuk-tuk drivers were also to be part of the project.

She said the city would see to it that those attending the courses would be paid for time lost.``They will lose part of their income. If we pay them, they will have an incentive,'' she said.

The Government Lottery Office would be asked to help cover the cost.

A taxi driver, who asked not to be named, said he thought the programme sounded good.

At present similar training is provided by an open university in conjunction with taxi drivers' associations. But it cost 1,200 baht per course.

``I would love to attend if it is free. Communicating in English is useful. Passengers feel more at ease if we can talk to them.''

--Bangkok Post 2003-08-12