Forums Forums Local News Wirral taxi drivers banned...

From wearing tracksuits,flip flops,dirty clothes. The code is not legally binding. Got this off bbc red button news.

I'm a taxi driver on the Wirral. I only found out about this today. Whilst I agree with it to some extent there are a number of issues that'll affect other drivers who are clean & tidy - like myself. I know it's targeted at those who appear scruffy dirty and unkempt but in doing so, it has the threat of affecting me.
 
I wear clean clothes each day. Mostly, it'll be tracksuit bottoms, clean (sparkling in fact!) trainers (my OCD helps!) and a t-shirt or jumper/fleece if it's cold. I'm clean, showered and tidy and my car is immaculate. I wear tracksuit bottoms as they provide me with a lot more comfort during the day than jeans (although I will wear them occasionally). I also wear shorts during the hot weather. I'd rather not be a sweating, uncomfortable mess for any of my passengers and not one of our regular or account customers has ever had any issue with it. Some have even commented on how cool and 'summery' I look.
 
This won't change a thing. Banning certain items of clothing worn by some of the scruffier drivers will only mean dirty jeans instead of tracksuits, crumpled trousers instead of shorts. It won't address the issue like they're intending. I will continue to dress as I've always done and know full well I'm smart, clean, tidy and presentable. Until such time as this becomes an enforceable law then it isn't going to make me wear uncomfortable clothing. I'm driving my car for hours each day (in sweltering heat at times), helping shoppers all day, helping elderly and disabled passengers all day and I'd like to feel comfortable, cool and un-irritated whilst doing so.

What the hell has wearing a tracksuit got to do with driving a car?

yes cleansliness is a must but tracksuits? comeon!

I'm not much of a tracksuit guy myself. I believe the tracksuit should be worn in the gym/sporting activities etc... however If one is driving around all day tracksuit bottoms are perfectly acceptable...

Its a shame people are judged by the way they dress and not by their content of character or their ability to help others. If i remember rightly the Kray twins always looked very smart and Mr Hitler looked very dapper in his little uniform, if those two examples are anything to go by, then god help us. Its not and shouldn't be what the taxi driver looks like, its down to the service he provides.

i worked in the taxi industry myself for 5/6 years operating and i must admit some of the driver & there cars where a discgrace even now the same drivers pick me up. cars coverd in cigarette ash and smelling quite bad!

some private hire firms in london have the right idea drivers in suits and cars must be valeted every week.

Yes I agree with Karl, the vehicle must be clean at all times, I've seen some cars which are downright revolting! Shame on those drivers, do they not care what people think?
What must their homes be like?

my other half was at the meeting the other night. he sits on the jcc as a union rep.on the agenda it says the current private hire driver licence conditions require that a private hire driver is clean & respectable in there dress & person. in Glasgow they have to wear shirt & ties.I would rather get in a clean taxi with a smart driver than in a scruffy taxi.Shorts are ok in the summer so long as theyre smart. As they say first impressions count.A lot of places wear polo tops with the firms name on so why not taxi drivers.

I agree, but I used to drive around the country wearing a suit and it's something you just did, as do millions of sales executives, bus drivers, train drivers, etc. Think the whole shell suit as formal work dress isn't nice, it just looks horrible.

Dress code is all about standards and I am afraid standards have gone down to the bottom of the hill in this country.

I agree the car should be clean and tidy, but this is not about cars, this is about the people who drive them and what they consider comfortable work clothes. I have never worn track suits, shell suites or even shorts other than playing sports in my life, nor would i, but i go to work in working clothes suitable for the work i carry out, and thats all a taxi driver is doing, all i want from a Taxi driver is a bit of pleasantness (not compulsory) and to get me from A to B safely. I'm off now to complain to the council because the binman wasn't in his Savile row suit.

I can't say it bothers me too much as I haven't got a taxi in years, but if the boss wants them to wears uniform, how hard can it be? Also, some taxi drivers assume you want to be assaulted with f*cking fook sh*t tw*t look at her tits, so what's it matter what they wear.

They dont really have a boss they are self employed so the boss cant really tell them what to wear

the owner of the firm they represent should tell them.Delta in liverpool have meetings between the owners & drivers.