Disability charity criticises Derby City Council's plans to change colour of taxis from yellow t

Derby City Council have come under fire from a disability charity after plans to change the colour of taxis in the area from yellow to black were revealed.

Derby's taxis have been all-yellow for over 20 years, but the council has decided to make the change after drivers complained about the costs involved in changing the vehicle colour.

Concerns have been raised by Disability Direct who say that changing the colour from yellow to black will make it more difficult for the visually impaired to identify the vehicles as taxis.

One of the issues raised is that if a visually impaired individual cannot identify the vehicle as a taxi because of the colour change, they may get into a vehicle which is not a taxi, thus putting them in danger.

Derby City Council have stated that they have taken the views of the disabled community into consideration and, as a result, all taxis will have to have a diagonal yellow stripe down the side of the vehicle.

The new colour scheme will come into effect immediately for new vehicles. Cabs which are currently yellow will have until 2025 to make the transition to black.

According to the BBC, Mick Barker, from Derby City Council, said: "The new design is very striking and will retain the unique 'Derby yellow'.”

A meeting this week discussed the full Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Strategy in the region.  

Image Source: LEVC