Derby residents will soon start to notice a new look to some of our Hackney carriage taxis. New hackney carriages operating in Derby will now be branded in our new colour scheme of black with a Derby ‘yellow flash’.
The new colour scheme will be a sign to residents that this vehicle meets strict emission standards and the owner is playing their part in helping reduce pollution levels as well as improving customer experience by using the latest and cleanest cars available to the trade.
Hackney carriages are an important part of our transport network, safely getting people in and out of the city for shopping, eating, taking us home after a good night out as well as supporting our frontline services at this particularly difficult time. We want our Hackney’s to be a visible representation of a modern, clean and customer friendly fleet and following the development of the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Strategy a decision was made by the licensing committee last year to implement the colour change and other new rules for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. Whilst the implementation has been delayed the first new vehicles are now ready to hit the streets.
Those driving the current yellow cabs have until January 2025 to meet the required minimum standard of Euro 6 Diesel or ZEC ULEV. By the same date all hackney carriages and private hire vehicles should be no more than 15 years old for diesel vehicles and 12 years for ZEC ULEV vehicles.
Cllr Ajit Atwal, Chair of Licensing Committee, said:
I’m really pleased we’ve been able to begin moving forward with the rebranding of the Derby fleet. The committee was strongly in favour of this measure, easing the burden on taxi drivers having to do a full respray of their Hackney carriages, whilst retaining that distinctive yellow brand. Derby customers will be able to see the new yellow flash and know that they are getting into a safer and more efficient vehicle.