Chiang Mai Taxi Driver Training

1. Introduction to Driving. This course teaches you the
basic principles of driving a taxi, such as starting the
vehicle, making it go forward, and saying with a straight
face, "Meter not working."



2. Intermediate Driving. In this course, you will learn
how to use your hands, not just to steer the vehicle, but also to rub them together gleefully
whenever you spot a tourist.

3. Advanced Driving This course teaches you advanced
techniques, such as how to make a U-turn on a one-way
street, how to spot a tourist from a mile away, and how to
turn a 2-km ride into city tour. You will learn
useful English phrases, such as "Don't worry, you not pay
much. Usual rate only" and "No, no, we not going in circles.
This is different temple. All looking the same!"



4. Meter Management. This course teaches you how to
manipulate your meter to maximize your earnings. You will
learn how to turn it on and off, how to make it go faster,
and how to say "meter not working" in 28 languages.



5. Fuel Management. In this course, you will learn various
ways to improve fuel economy, such as giving preference to
skinny customers, turning off your engine when you're stuck
in traffic, and using your hands as paddles during rainy season. You will also learn how to reduce wind resistance
through the highly effective technique of tailgating.



6. Negotiation Techniques. You will learn how to size up
each potential customer and determine how much money they
would be willing to part with. You will learn to start with
a very high figure and then reduce it by a third or half,
depending on how much steam comes out of your customer's
ears.




Adapted from Melvin Durai.

(Actually, those drivers are quite good!)

Point 2, also remembering to wai any wat or statue the taxi passes, similarly involves taking both hands off the wheel, but only when doing <100 km per-hour.

This skill is also common amongst bus-drivers.

Point 2, also remembering to wai any wat or statue the taxi passes, similarly involves taking both hands off the wheel, but only when doing <100 km per-hour.

This skill is also common amongst bus-drivers.

Yeah, but the little guy stuck on the dashboard, takes over at that point.

All the time I lived in Bangkok, I got in one taxi with the meter switched off. When I pointed that out, the driver almost prostrated himself in apology and switched it on.

In Chiang Mai, I don't think I've ever been in a taxi with a functioning meter, and I certainly haven't encountered any drivers who seemed concerned about that. Maybe a law enforcement thing?

The songthaew co-op is the main reason. They effectively make sure all attempts at alternative transport within the city becomes a less attractive deal than riding a songthaew.

If the taxis started running on meters the same way as they do in Bangkok, they would become the best transport deal, far better than the red songthaews, due to getting directly from A to B in air-conditioned comfort without having to negotiate a price or go on sight-seeing trips with other customers before reaching your destination.

If the taxis started running on meters the same way as they do in Bangkok, they would become the best transport deal, far better than the red songthaews, due to getting directly from A to B in air-conditioned comfort without having to negotiate a price or go on sight-seeing trips with other customers before reaching your destination.

I disagree. How often have you seen myriads of Songthaews driving around empty for ages? Meter Taxi's driving around Chiang Mai would go broke in a heartbeat, there just isn't the constant customer base that there is in Bangkok.

So why are they called meter taxis ??

So why are they called meter taxis ??

Exactly - try hailing one in CM and telling him to put the meter on.

I think Songthaew's are great and Tuk Tuk's convenient.