[originaltext] London taxi drivers know the capital like the back of their h

London taxi drivers know the capital like the back of their hands. No matter how small and indistinct the street is, the driver will be able to get you there without any trouble. The reason London taxi drivers are so efficient is that they have all gone through a very tough training period to get a special taxi driving license. During this period, which can take from two to four years, the would-be taxi driver has to learn the most direct route to every single road and to every important building in London.
    To achieve this, most learners go around the city on small motorbikes, practicing how to move to and from different points of the city. Learner taxi drivers are tested several times during their training period by government officers. Their exams are a terrible experience. The officers ask you, “How do you get from Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London?” And you have to take them there in a direct line. When you get to the tower, they won’t say “Well done”; they will quickly move on to the next question. After five or six questions they will just say “see you in two months’ time” and then you know the exam is over. Learner drivers are not allowed to work and earn money as drivers. Therefore, many of them keep their previous jobs until they have obtained their license. The training can cost quite a lot because learners have to pay for their own expenses on the tests and a medical exam.