Cabbies face lessons in cutting the chat

DRIVERS of London's black cabs are famous for their chat, but new recruits to the job could be given training in another skill – knowing when to shut up.

The licensing requirements for London taxis are dominated by "the Knowledge", the mental map of routes that drivers spend around three years acquiring. But John Mason, head of taxi regulation at Transport for London,

is now calling for classes in customer service, including lessons in determining when a passenger might need quiet.

"Perhaps it's good sometimes to keep your mouth shut if you sense vibes from the customer that they might be having a bad day," said Mason.