Taxi drivers refuse to hail Brennan's primary colours

Victor

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2765-842103,00.html

Taxi drivers refuse to hail Brennan’s primary colours
Siobhan Maguire

THE transport minister’s plans for a standard blue-and-yellow colour code for taxis are at risk of being scuppered by the cab drivers’ union.
Sean Brennan, who plans to introduce the colour scheme to help regulate the taxi industry, is considering the colour scheme because it matches the taxi signs on the cars’ roofs.

However, taxi unions intend to upset his plans by establishing their own rival fleet of taxis in a clashing colour scheme.

Vincent Kearns, National Taxi Drivers Union vice-president, said the minister had a “bee in his bonnet” about the need for a standard colour for taxis. He claimed the industry had a “general lack of confidence” in the minister.

Brennan had hoped to introduce the scheme before announcing the appointment of a taxi regulator next month.

“There are more important issues to be discussed and implemented before we start looking at a colour scheme for taxis,” Kearns said. “The minister has a duty to appoint a (taxi) regulator and the idea of introducing a national colour-code should be way down on his list of priorities.”

Kearns’s union has conducted a feasibility study into launching a new national taxi company, made up of its 3,000 members, who would drive a uniform fleet of cars. The private company, with start-up costs estimated at €5m, would be run by a management board of union officials and taxi drivers, who will own 30% of shares in the business.

“We have not decided on a colour for our new fleet of cars but the idea will be to have our own company of cars that are the same make and colour,” said Kearns.

Taxi drivers have long been lobbying against deregulation of the industry. Kearns said there are now too many taxis in Dublin. The capital has more than 10,000 taxis, 2,500 less than in New York.

Frank Lahiffe, the minister’s special adviser, acknowleged that taxi drivers had objected to colour-coding cabs.

“While there has been some opposition, the department has a majority of support from drivers and other unions. The introduction of a colour scheme will make taxis instantly recognisable and more professional looking,” he said.

Lahiffe said it was also hoped that legislation would be introduced to address the age of cars so that all taxis would be of a similar standard and would meet safety requirements.

The department is in talks with taxi drivers to create a national identity for cabs. Laurence Kelly, a Dublin taxi driver, has proposed each car carries a sticker bearing a licence number and county crest.

“Any kind of identification for the taxi industry should be welcomed,” he said.

“The taxi industry is a fully fledged professional service Other European countries recognise this by having a national identity and colour on their cars, so it is something that should be looked at over here,” said Kelly, who has been driving taxis for 20 years.

“Something radical must be done to amend how vehicles are licensed and insured, for the good of the drivers and the consumers alike.”

Christopher Humphrey of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association said it backed the minister’s taxi colour-scheme plans: “There has been consultation with the department on the matter and we are in support of a national identity for taxis.”

One suspects part of the reason is to use the taxi as a private vehicle also - not great visiting the would-be mother-in-law in a blue and yellow car.

Borzoi

Taxi drivers have long been lobbying against deregulation of the industry. Kearns said there are now too many taxis in Dublin. The capital has more than 10,000 taxis, 2,500 less than in New York.

But then New York has a good public transport system. Dublin doesn't.

Really the issue of the colour of the taxi is way down my list compared to driving and safety standards. While New York, London and most German cities have a standard colour for their cabs, Switerland doesn't prefering to relay on good quality signs like ourselves.

Now if we could only link the light on the roof to whether the meter is running

dmeehan

Now if we could only link the light on the roof to whether the meter is running

now we're talkin'

Johnmb

Now if we could only link the light on the roof to whether the meter is running

It can be done quite easily, but for some reason it isn't. Possibly seems to be due to the fact that most taxis buy their signs from different people to the meters, and one wont mess with the others work, or will (most likely) charge a ridiculous amount of money to do so.

sceptre

“Any kind of identification for the taxi industry should be welcomed,” he said

I propose that all taxi drivers wear Cat-In-The-Hat style hats, greet each customer with a hearty "Ahoy there!", insert a "No Talking About The Weather And The Driver Could Not Really Run The Country Better Than Those Morons" sign in every car and decorate every car like the vehicle used by Dr Snuggles.

That or wear Oompa Loompa outfits.

Thanks to Laurence Kelly, a Dublin taxi driver, for being the inspiration behind this new look for our fine taxi drivers.

MadsL

Take the damn radios out!

Stop the feckers being Hackneys when it is quiet and they feel like it and Taxis when it is busy. Talk about cake and eat it!

Make 'em use a roof sign that is visible in daylight - and illegal to say 'I'm not working' or 'I'm on a job!' when the roof sign is physically on the car roof.