The stereotypical image of a harassed business person straining over a computer keyboard immediately springs to mind when ‘work related stress’ is mentioned, but what most people forget about is how stressful working as a taxi driver can be. Growing traffic congestion, irate customers and roadworks can make a cab driver’s life very stressful.
   Questioning frequent road-users, Lease Plan’s national survey rated tailgating as the most irritating form of behaviour on the UK’s roads, closely followed by queue-jumping and aggressive driving. Slow drivers and traffic light jumpers also featured in the list of top eight most annoying / irritating driving habits.

Call Sign looks at
Traffic Trauma

1. Tailgaters
2. Drivers who queue-jump
3. Aggresive driving
4. Hogging fast lane
5. Driving too slowly
6. Passing on inside
7. Puller-outers
8. Traffic light jumpers

Even if you don’t agree with the ranking of this list, many drivers will agree that most, if not all, cause stress in a typical cab driver’s day.

Stress Awareness Day on November 4^th, draws attention to the serious problems stress can cause and offers advice on coping with stress at work.

Various recognised spokespeople will be offering their advice and help on stress management. Keep an ear out for coverage on Classic FM as well.

 Susan Murray

A BUTTERBOY'S RECOLLECTION

By Ray Sorene A53)
I got my Badge and Bill on the 20^th April 1964. Why is that date so fixed in my mind? Well, one other important event was due to take place evening. BBC2 was due to start transmitting and that was the evening I started work for the first time as a Licensed Taxi Driver.
   All went well for the first few hours. I stopped for a short break at the Marylebone Grill (anyone remember it?) and then went back to work. I was in the West End when suddenly all the street lights went out, then the traffic lights, quickly followed by the shop window lights and advertising signs. Everything went out!
   Then chaos started as all the theatres and cinemas in the Wet End burst at the same time. Very few public buildings at that time had standby generators, so no emergency power was available. As you

can imagine, the demand for cabs was overwhelming and without any means to see street names. Boy, did I get lost! In fact, I even remember driving down Denman Street by the Regent Palace Hotel THE WRONG WAY!
   In all the confusion, it was difficult to remember any one way streets as all the road signs were out as well! This went on for several hours and the cause of it? A fire at Battersea Power Station and, to cap it all, I got a job to the power station that evening. The fare was a journalist who was going to see what had happened! Needless to say, 1 went home rather shattered.
   By the way, BBC2 started the next evening.
   A good start to a cabbing career, don't you think?

If you have a good Butterboy Recollection to share, please sent it to Call Sign.

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