Ten years ago white was the colour of choice for car lovers and the perfect choice for a Black Country taxi fleet. But now cabbies in Dudley borough claim white cars are outdated and almost impossible to get hold of.
Many drivers say they are even having to fork out thousands of pounds spray-painting different coloured cars white because new white cars are so rare. Alan Solomon, of Halesowen Cars, said: “I had to order a white mini-bus and it took ten-weeks because it is such a rare colour now.
“There was a delay and I couldn’t work for four weeks because of the wait.
“The idea is that all the taxis have to be white so that people can see which cars are taxis and it is safer. But the problem is there is no common colour across the Midlands. In neighbouring places like Wolverhampton and Bromsgrove and Birmingham taxis can be any colour and they come into this area as well so why does Dudley have this rule?”
He added: “I wouldn’t mind sticking to one colour if it was the same for everyone but not when Dudley is just stuck in the middle like this.”
Yvonne Nash, of Halesowen Cars, said: “A lot of drivers end up buying a car which is a different colour because there are no white cars being made and then they have to pay £1,000 to have it spray-painted.”
Jeffrey Hill, vice-chairman of Dudley’s taxis committee, said: “The reason we have a specific colour is for public safety reasons so that people can identify a private hire vehicle from someone who is trying to pick people up with bad intentions.
“If other authorities do not want to have a specific colour that is their business but in Dudley we have a specific colour in the interests of public safety.”
Council rules governing private hire vehicles say they must all display a roof sign and vehicle plate and that fares must be pre-booked prior to the journey.
Councillor Doreen Ameson, chairman of the taxis committee, said: “We are dedicated to making the services provided by Dudley taxi companies which are licensed with us as safe possible.”
|