If you have to take a taxi ride, you may be worried about making conversation with the driver. Finding yourself on a long airport transfer or stuck in city centre traffic with nothing to say can be an uncomfortable experience. Below is a handy guide which will help you to make and sustain a conversation with your taxi driver.
Take the Initiative
Sometimes a taxi driver will be quite happy to talk away to themselves, and it is easy to give simple yes and no responses to show that you are listening. However, other taxi drivers may not immediately start a conversation with you when you enter the cab. The longer this goes on for, the harder it can become to start a conversation.
You should take the initiative and start the conversation as soon as you enter the cab. Ask the driver a question about their day so far. For example:
Many drivers will love to talk about their days. These questions will encourage the driver to speak at length about the driving and road conditions and how long they spend driving their cab. It is possible that they will then discuss other fares they have picked up that day, the time they spend with their family and what they think the city council should do about traffic congestion.
Ask For Useful Information
Taxi drivers often know the city they work in like the back of their hand. If you are visiting a city for the first time, you can kill two birds with one stone by creating conversation while also finding out useful information. For example, you may ask:
Things to Avoid
When thinking about topics to discuss with your taxi driver, you should apply the same rule you would use when eating Sunday lunch at your grandma's house. That is, no discussion of money, politics or religion. By avoiding potentially controversial subjects such these, you can avoid any uncomfortable exchanges with your driver which could lead to an awkward journey.
Following these tips will ensure you have a comfortable ride with a driver from a cab company like United Taxis and a pleasant conversation with your cab driver.
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