Black and White or Shades of Grey? Newcastle's Taxi Livery Changes Confirmed

Image Credit: Newcastle City Council

In a move that has stirred both the taxi industry and the public, Newcastle City Council has approved plans to rebrand the city's fleet of nearly 600 licensed hackney carriages. 
 
The new policy mandates that hackney carriages must be all black with distinctive white bonnets, display red Council crests on the front doors, and have a taxi sign on the roof that is white at the front and red at the rear.  
 
Private hire vehicles, on the other hand, will need to display a green council number plate and the operator’s details on the back passenger doors. 
 
The decision aims to make taxis easily recognizable and enhance public safety. But not everyone is on board with these changes.

The livery rebrand is part of the Council's new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, which was approved in a City Council meeting on September 6. The council believes that the unique branding will assure passengers of high licensing standards and safe transportation. 
 
Cllr Paula Maines, Newcastle City Council Cabinet member for a Resilient City, said: “Taxis play an important role in keeping our city moving and many people in our communities rely upon them. 

“That is why it is so crucial that we have a distinctive fleet of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles that the public can easily recognise. 

“The unique branding will assure passengers that the driver, vehicle and operators have met our very high licensing standards and that they will be transported to their destination safely. 

“It also supports the work we do with key partners to stop unlicensed drivers illegally plying for trade and preying on vulnerable people – particularly lone women – after a night out. 

“The safety of everyone is our top priority and we are committed to ensuring Newcastle continues to be an attractive and vibrant place to visit, work and live.” 

However, the decision has not been universally welcomed. Taxi drivers have staged protests, arguing that the rebranding imposes a "huge burden" on them. 
 
Mohammed Subhan, secretary of the Newcastle British-Bangladeshi Taxi Drivers’ Association, questioned the effectiveness of the new measures, stating:

"In the nighttime you won’t be able to tell if a car has a black or white bonnet or not." 

While the council's initiative aims to improve public safety, especially for vulnerable individuals like lone women, the effectiveness of the rebranding in achieving this goal remains a topic of debate.  
 
Alternative safety measures, such as improved CCTV in cars and at taxi ranks, have been suggested as more effective solutions. 

To ease the transition, the council is offering a £100 grant to each licensed hackney carriage driver to help with the cost of fitting the white vinyl wrapping. However, drivers fear that the wraps will need to be replaced frequently, incurring additional costs that they will have to bear. 

While the council aims to improve public safety and make taxis easily recognizable, drivers are concerned about the financial and practical implications of the new policy. As the city adapts to these changes, it remains to be seen whether the rebranding will achieve its intended goals.