Madam, - Martin J. Donnelly's letter of August 5th, describing his experience of a tactless and possibly racist taxi-driver, provides evidence that an element of unprofessional scruffiness persists in the taxi industry.
One way of weeding out the bad apples would be for the Taxi Regulator to establish a screening procedure whereby anyone applying for a taxi licence must attend and successfully complete a taxi-driver initiation course.
Cultural awareness, customer service and etiquette would be high on the agenda. The course could incorporate a theoretic and practical final exam and an interview. - Yours, etc.
NIALL O'DONOGHUE, Narva, Finland.