Taxi Driver Online

Perth taxi drivers ordered to smarten up



Taxi drivers who have beards or moustaches will have to ensure they are kept “neat and trimmed” and wear “tailored” shorts according to a quirky new dress code which is set to be introduced in Perth.


Councillors have agreed to pass the dress code, which also states that drivers’ hair must be “clean and combed” and that men will have to wear a shirt, smart trousers, with women obliged to wear a blouse and a “smart” skirt.

The requirements will mean taxi drivers and private hire cab drivers will not be allowed to wear trainers, tracksuits or jeans.

The move follows similar dress codes which were introduced for colleagues in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Renfrewshire.

A report drawn up by Moina McLaren, solicitor with Perth and Kinross Council, said the idea of the dress code would reflect on the image of Perth.

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/ ... p-1.444000

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

Aw naw Morag, It's a letter frae the cooncil and they can go fech theirsevles, the chin bush stays

Mixed response to Perth taxi drivers’ ‘dress code’ rules


A Perth taxi operator claims a new dress code for drivers is “in line with the 21st century”.

Members of Perth and Kinross Council’s licensing committee agreed to the new code, with Andy Lothian, owner of Ace Taxis in Perth, stating “the days of taxi drivers wearing tracksuits” are over.

The move appeared to have received a largely favourable response.

Fred Hill, 69, of Perth, said he felt the move would “help” improve the image of taxi drivers in Perth.

“We don’t use taxis that often but I think this would be a good thing,” he said.

This view was backed by Perth mother-of-two Alice Woodward, 31, who said she feels while some taxi drivers are smart, some could do with wearing “decent” clothes.

“I get taxis regularly and some of the guys look pretty scruffy, wearing tracksuits and trainers,” she said. “I feel it would improve the image of the city.”

Mr Lothian said he felt it is a “great thing” that the council “came on board” with the idea and said his drivers now wear red polo shirts when they are working.

“The days of taxi drivers wearing tracksuits or jeans should be over — we’re in the 21st century now,” he said. “Personally, I’m all in favour of it and can see where the council are coming from. It makes sure everybody is on board with this and will see taxi drivers being clean and smart.”

Fellow Perth taxi driver Alan Blair also said he felt the new dress code was a good thing. “I’m all for it,” he said. “It’s much better wearing smart trousers than jeans.”

However, one driver who also operates on Murray Street, who wished to remain anonymous, was against it. “This is nonsense. I don’t see the point of it, at all,” he said.

A council spokesperson said: “We will be notifying all taxi drivers in Perth and Kinross of this change over the next few weeks, after which we will be expecting them to comply with the new condition of their licence.”

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... s-1.449757

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

The bit about women having to wear a smart skirt might get the council into
trouble.

Will they be imposing a regulation haircut like North Korea?

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Grandad,

Like their President.....Kin Ginge Yin.

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

Training plans for Perth taxi drivers move up a gear

Proposals to introduce a series of training measures for Perth taxi drivers have been given the initial green light by the council.

The radical plans, which include training to help disabled customers, defensive training — driving safely to avoid preventable accidents — and personal safety and abuse awareness, will only be introduced after consultation with taxi drivers and private car hire firms.

A Perth taxi operator, Anddy Lothian, who owns Ace Taxis, has labelled the plans as “political correctness”.

At yesterday’s meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s licensing committee, council solicitor Moina McLaren said the report she had prepared was for information and the local authority were looking at various options.

“There are no firm conclusions yet — it’s a case of trying to find the type of training that could be delivered,” she said.

“However, before any proposals are discussed, we will need to have consultations with the trade, in the form of a forum. At the moment we are just exploring different options and we want to keep costs at a minimal amount.”

She explained to the committee that the idea for the plan came about largely as a result of “a number of concerns about disabled passengers”.

Committee convener Jack Coburn said he thought it was “reasonable” that the local authority should look into the proposals.

“This committee will have to look at issues such as health and safety,” he said.

The move to introduce the training follows on from a controversial dress code plan by the council to ask taxi drivers and private hire car users to keep beards and moustaches “neat and trimmed” and to wear “tailored” shorts.

Ms McLaren’s report stated that some drivers were “unfamiliar” with their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.

“These duties include taking such steps necessary to ensure that the passenger is carried in safety and in reasonable comfort and giving the passenger such mobility as is reasonably required,” her report said.

“Other reasons for introducing training, beyond that of disability, are that it would improve public safety, result in fewer complaints and create a better image of Perth.

“It would also provide taxi and private hire car drivers with an opportunity to obtain a recognised qualification and enhance the quality of service provided.”

Perth and Kinross Council would seek to cover the costs of the training by adding it to the licensing fee.

Mr Lothian said: “Our firm has been going for 20 years so why do we need training now? I don’t see why there should be any training — we don’t need an extra expense on top of things.”

source: http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/ ... r-1.571977

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