North Ayrshire maintains taxi driver dress code after compliance review
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
North Ayrshire Council has confirmed it will not make further changes to its taxi and private hire driver dress code following a formal review of how the standards have been applied since their introduction last year.
A report presented to the council’s Licensing Committee on 10 December said the revised Standards of Dress, approved in September 2024, remain appropriate and effective, despite some breaches by a small number of licence holders.
The dress code applies when vehicles are operating as taxis or private hire cars and requires drivers to be clean, tidy and dressed in a professional manner. Specific requirements cover headwear, trousers, tops, footwear and outerwear, with jogging trousers, hoodies, football shirts, sandals and flip-flops among items explicitly banned.
The report states that between 31 October 2023 and 10 September 2024, before the revised standards came into force, 10 taxi drivers received verbal warnings relating to dress. Since the updated code was implemented, a further 19 drivers have been verbally warned for non-compliance.
Licensing committee told no changes are required despite ongoing non-compliance among a minority of drivers.
Licensing officers estimate that between 10 and 15 percent of drivers are currently failing to meet the required standard, although the council stressed that enforcement has focused on advice and verbal warnings rather than formal sanctions.
Under the existing conditions, if a licensing officer considers a driver’s clothing to be inconsistent with the dress code, the driver must immediately cease operating until they change into compliant attire. The only permitted exemption relates to clothing required by traditional or customary religious practice.
Officers recommended no amendments at this stage, concluding that the standards strike an appropriate balance between professional presentation and practical flexibility for drivers.
The update was submitted by Aileen Craig, Head of Democratic Services at North Ayrshire Council, with the report prepared by the council’s Civic Licensing Standards team.
