Taxi driver's 14 commandments

OK, not many taxi drivers in Ulaanbaatar will probably find this page but if one of you does, please spread the following words of enlightenment to your colleagues…

1. Your meter should not be counting down the distance when the taxi is stationary.
2. Should your passenger vomit, or leave any other bodily product in the car, kick him out and clear up the mess before it freezes solid.
3. I travel the same route to work every day and know it is exactly 4 kilometres, not 6.
4. Start your meter when I get in the car and not before.
5. Carrying a passenger does not give you the right to try and get to the front of every queue and overtake every other car on the road.
6. If you almost have no gas in your tank then go and fill up before picking up a passenger, especially if you have to add a kilometre to your route to go round a one-way system to the filling station.
7. When I’m talking to someone else in the cab then do not turn up your CB or hip-hop music to drown us out.
8. Should you tout for fares from the airport your customers are likely to have some baggage – it’s best to empty your boot of the assorted crap you carry and wipe out the remains of the last slaughtered animal you took home.
9. If you have to smoke then open your window a little.
10. It’s not acceptable to pick up fares when drunk.
11. At seven in the evening, after picking up fares all day, you DO have change for a 5000 tug note.
12. It is customary for the front seat to be securely attached to the car.
13. Do not break off all your inside door handles and replace them with pieces of string or coat-hanger wire.
14. Racing your mate in his taxi is best done when I’m not there.

Thanks.