A passenger in an Irish taxi leaned over to ask the driver, Paddy, a question and tapped him on the shoulder.
Paddy screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window.
For a few moments everything was silent in the cab and then the still shaking driver said, 'I'm sorry but ye scared the livin' daylights outa me.'
The frightened passenger apologised to the driver and said she didn't realize a mere tap on the shoulder would frighten him so much.
Paddy replied, 'No, no, I'm sorry, tis entirely my fault. Today is me first day drivin' a cab ........ I've been drivin' a hearse for the last 25 years.'