Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies Told To Smarten Up

August 19, 2009

Salford cabbies are being told to smarten up or risk losing their licence.

Council chiefs have ordered private hire cabbies to stop wearing jeans, baseball caps and football strips.

More than 1,700 drivers are being warned they could be banned unless they stick to a smart new dress code.

The ultimatum is part of a major licensing shake-up.

Council bosses say the dress code - which will also ban flipflops, beachwear and tracksuits - will help smarten up the city's image.

But cabbies have claimed customers are unconcerned about a driver's appearance and say the rules go too far.

Thomas Rook, a Salford private hire driver, said: "More than half the drivers wear jeans.

Comfortable

"When you're in the car all day, you need to wear something that's comfortable and will let you breathe.

"If a taxi firm is sending to hotels every day, then it is perfectly entitled to ask drivers to wear a shirt and tie. But if firms are almost always doing pick-ups from Morrisons and Tesco, there is not the same need to be dressed up.

"It should be up to cab firms to tell their employees what to wear, rather than the council."

The code will be enforced through the council's existing `points system'. Drivers can already be given points for having dirty cabs and failing to display ID badges.

Those who accrue 10 points or more under the scheme are hauled before a licensing panel and can be forced to re-sit their tests or be banned altogether.

Now those who infringe the dress code will have two points put against their name,

As well as the jeans ban, drivers must not wear football and rugby tops and must keep their shoulders covered. The rules also say clothing must be clean and `free from holes and rips".

Cabbies can only wear shorts if they are tailored.

Under the proposed changes, new and existing drivers will also have to gain an NVQ qualification in driving passengers.

The 25-hour course will cover customer service, transporting children and vulnerable adults, emergencies and processing fares.

Shabby appearance

Salford council said their plans - currently being considered by a committee - are the result of a year-long consultation in which the public repeatedly criticised cabbies for their shabby appearance.

Coun Keith Mann, in charge of licensing, said: "Private hire vehicles and Hackney cabs provide a public service and we have a duty to ensure we are regulating operators for quality and public service.

"This includes making sure drivers are professional and smartly dressed to deliver a service on behalf of the city.

"I believe the implementation of such a policy will benefit the trade and their customers."

Drivers are also fighting other proposals in the new guidelines - which include plans to increase the number of black cabs and introduce CO2 emission standards for all vehicles.

In 2007, Macclesfield council - which covers towns such as Alderley Edge and Wilmslow - told drivers to stop wearing jogging bottoms and vests.

Source; ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
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Is that in the 1847 act or the 1976 act?

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Grandad,

I don't think it's just jeans that let you breathe anything that fits you properly will enable you to do this

I don't think it's necessary to wear a shirt and tie a smart quality polo shirt (preferably provided by the operator in the case of PH) would do the trick with anti crease light weight pants and smart pair of puppies or the like

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Can't beat shorts and trainers when it's hot hot hot.

The only place it's usually hot hot hot is on holiday abroad and it's bikini time. Obviously not suitable for taxi driving or for fellas

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

So a mankini is defiantly out then?

_________________
Life? Don't talk to me about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjm2eslm6hI

I think the council are trying to improve the standing of the trade, it's a shame the drivers aren't doing it themselves.

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IDFIMH

I think those acts are there to ensure the safe transport of folks from A to B, so maybe they don't directly cover the dress code.

That said I haven't a problem with a sensible dress code, but I do take issue with it coming from a council, cos most of the council officials I see are some of the scruffiest folks around.

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IDFIMH

1t's in the 1976 Act; for Private Hire drivers that is!!

And it's probably in the 1847 Act for Hackney drivers, but I have not looked.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

I beg to differ, but stand waiting to be corrected.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Which bit do you think is wrong, that it's in the 1976 Act or that it's probably in the 1847 Act or both

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

both...i think.

LA's can apply conditions but theres nothing in the acts referring to dress?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Thanks....... I think

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

It's that all encompassing clause in the LG(MP) Act 1976, 'A district council may attach to the grant of a licence under this section such conditions as they may consider reasonably necessary.'

51 Licensing of drivers of private hire vehicles

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, a district council shall, on the receipt of an application from any person for the grant to that person of a licence to drive private hire vehicles, grant to that person a driver's licence:
Provided that a district council shall not grant a licence—
(a) unless they are satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a driver's licence; or
(b) to any person who has not for at least twelve months been authorised to drive a motor car, or is not at the date of the application for a driver's licence so authorised.
For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section a person is authorised to drive a motor car if—
(a) he holds a licence granted under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988(not being a provisional licence) authorising him to drive a motor car, or
(b) he is authorised by virtue of section 99A(1) [or section 109(1)] of that Act to drive in Great Britain a motor car.

(2) A district council may attach to the grant of a licence under this section such conditions as they may consider reasonably necessary.

(3) It shall be the duty of a council by which licences are granted in pursuance of this section to enter, in a register maintained by the council for the purpose, the following particulars of each such licence, namely—
(a) the name of the person to whom it is granted;
(b) the date on which and the period for which it is granted; and
(c) if the licence has a serial number, that number, and to keep the register available at its principal offices for inspection by members of the
public during office hours free of charge.

And if the council in their ultimate wisdom deem or consider it to be reasonably necessary, they may decree so.

IMO, I don't think it's unreasonable & their decision would probably be upheld by a court if some scruffy bar steward were to challenge it.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

I dont agree BC.....and I'm yet to be convinced how such actions could be deemed reasonably necessary.

regards

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin