TimesLIVE reports that the Gauteng transport department announced on Tuesday that in a bid to reduce road carnage, the province’s taxi drivers would be sent for advanced driving lessons.  

“Armscor is going to help us with advanced driving skills.  We want to empower the taxi industry, particularly the taxi drivers, so they can ... improve not just driving, but also customer relations,” said Gauteng transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo.  He noted that having a driver's licence did not necessarily mean one was adequately skilled and added that it was important “that we empower taxi drivers with advanced and sophisticated methods of driving so that we protect the lives of commuters.”  The project, to be rolled out from next year, would be funded by government and the taxi industry.  Apart from polishing their driving skills, Mamabolo said an academy that offered educational programmes to improve drivers' social skills would also be set up.  “The taxi industry will change, it is just a matter of time,” said Mamabolo.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Naledi Shange at TimesLIVE

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