from Yorkshire coast radio
A new livery for all Hackney carriage taxis in the East Riding has been approved.
It will be carried out in two phases with new and replacement vehicles taking effect from 1 May 2017 and all existing licensed vehicles gradually becoming part of the livery by December 2020.
It's been agreed by the cabinet at the county council.
A report says:
"The implementation of a livery is an important feature of supporting the public safety and safeguarding standards we require under our licensing policy to protect those at risk and these form the framework by which we undertake our statutory responsibilities in respect of taxi vehicle licensing. These considerations are particularly important in light of the findings of the report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and other similar Inquiries in which licensing protections was a key area of concern.
A livery will also create an East Riding brand, allowing customers to differentiate between taxis licensed in different areas and support the high professionalism of the local trade."
The colour scheme is a white base with pantone green markings. This colour scheme will closely identify and link the East Riding of Yorkshire taxi livery with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
A financial contribution from the Council be made available to vehicle owners, to assist the licensed trade in moving towards a full livery as soon as possible to promote safeguarding and public safety.
It's claimed a taxi livery will raise standards in the licensed trade, as well as promote public safety.
The council says the benefits of a livery, are that it:
Improves identification: Vehicles are clearly identifiable as a taxi.
Enhances safety and security: Customers can be confident that the taxi is properly licensed and meets the necessary safety standards. This is particularly important to women and to vulnerable clients often transported late at night.
Promotes safeguarding: particularly on journeys involving the transporting of children and adults at risk.
Increases trade: It can improve customer confidence and customers are acknowledged by other authorities to be happier to hail a liveried taxi rather than take a chance on an unliveried one.
Creates local identity: A local livery creates a strong local identity.
Helps professionalise the service: A local livery coupled with clear driver training and vehicle standards helps to create a more professional service.
Enables easier enforcement: Taxi drivers raise regular concern about the loss of trade to alleged touting by private hire vehicles and to taxi vehicles licensed by other
Boroughs. A clear and identifiable livery makes enforcement much easier.
The council says the disadvantages are primarily:
The cost to the driver: The livery can be achieved by ‘wrapping’ the car with the new colour and logos. A typical cost for a full wrap is around £1,100 to £1,700 and a part-wrap half these costs, depending on the type of vehicle. This wrapping would last for a minimum of 5-10 years. The wrap can be removed which then enables the car to be sold or used in its original colour scheme and protects the paintwork of the vehicle in the interim.
Private use of vehicles: Some drivers use their vehicle for private use and may not like having their vehicle identified as a taxi when they do so. However a taxi is primarily a 50 public transport vehicle. The light on the roof with "TAXI" is switched-on when the taxi is available for hire and switched-off when not.
There are 145 taxis (hackney carriage only) currently licensed and they will need to change to the new livery over a reasonable period of time.
I don't think drivers there will be too happy
