The Knowledge

I’ve read many times that taxi drivers in London are required to take a course which enables them to find the best, most efficient way to get you where you’re going. I’d be more sceptical of this claim, except that getting around London in taxicabs happened about fifteen times quicker than being driven by my cousin (who’s no slouch — you try following her on those narrow, winding streets).
Additionally, drivers equipped with The Knowledge also supposed to be well-​versed in all things London and should be able to reel off all sorts of facts and trivia, if you were to ask. (I never asked — one only wants to be just so overt about one’s touristic status, really.)
Or maybe I’m just easily impressed, coming from a city where cabbies rely almost exclusively on their passengers’ navigational skills to get about … rather like having a friend of a friend drive you home from the party. It’s nice, just sitting there, not having to drive from the back seat. If for nothing else, I salute the taxi drivers of London for allowing me this luxury.
I should really let the Londoners verify the accuracy of The Knowledge. Carry on.