Conwy: Taxi driver dress code a ‘dictate’, says cab owner

Taxi drivers could face written warnings for looking scruffy after a council said it would implement a dress code for cabbies.

Faded clothing, baseball caps and vest tops are among the banned items for hackney carriage and private hire drivers under Welsh government guidelines

Those found to be wearing dirty clothes, shorts above the knee, or flip-flops could be disciplined, Conwy County’s licensing committee was told on Tuesday.

Chris O’Neil, owner of Premier Cars in Bangor, said it was wrong for a council to “dictate” what driver’s could and could not wear.

“I’m all for being reasonable and tidy, ” said Mr O’Neil, who recently ended his taxi service in Llandudno after 16 months.

But he asked: “Who is given the authority to say if you look clean or dirty?”

The committee adopted the guidelines for a dress code and a new code of conduct, which included rules on drivers’ behaviour and on keeping their vehicles clean and tidy.

Glan Conwy councillor Sharon Doleman called the guidelines “subjective” and difficult to enforce.

“Are there going to be spot checks, or is it up to a customer who has noticed that a taxi driver isn’t very tidy or who has got the wrong footwear on to make a complaint?

Licensing officer John Donnelly said the offending driver would get a written warning.

“If a driver is offending in any way, we deal with the driver first, particularly with hackney carriages because they may be the sole proprietor,” he explained.

“Private hire drivers may work for themselves but also be sub-contracted to a private hire operator.

“If it was a consistent problem, we would go to the next step and probably involve the operator or employer.”

According to the new dress code:

• All clothing must be clean, in good condition, and free from damage
• Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than knee length
• Footwear must fit around the heel of the foot
• Hoods should not be worn over the head whilst driving

Unacceptable clothing includes:

• Clothing bearing slogans or graphics that are of an offensive or suggestive nature
• Clothing that is dirty, smelly, faded, or damaged
• Footwear such as flip-flops or sliders that do not have heel straps
• Pronounced heels
• Baseball caps or other headwear that obscures the face
• Clothing that leaves the shoulders and top of the arms uncovered such as vest tops
• Clothing that does not cover the chest, stomach/midriff, such as low-cut tops or crop tops.

Mr O’Neil said he agreed with the prohibition on offensive comments on T-shirts, but questioned the ban on baseball caps.

“We wear baseball caps in the summer for when it’s bright,” he said.

Transport minister Ken Skates said he welcomed the council’s move to set its own licensing conditions for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.

“In 2021, we published non-statutory guidance which aimed to better align taxi and private hire vehicle policies across Wales.

“This includes guidance on dress codes for drivers.”

A draft policy, including the new proposed rules, is set to be presented to the licensing committee in September.