Cabbies told to smarten up

Drivers are set to be told exactly what to wear

Scruffy taxi drivers in Edinburgh are facing a dressing down from the city council.

A new dress code is set to be introduced, stating what men and women cabbies should and should not wear.

Some are in favour, some against

A taxi licence condition, introduced in September 1999, stated that drivers should be "clean and tidy".

It also ordered them to wear "clothing which shall be of a type or standard reasonably fit for the purpose as approved by the cab inspector".

But the term "reasonably fit for the purpose" caused confusion and the rule was not being obeyed by all drivers.

This has resulted in proposals for a more detailed dress code which will go before the council's regulatory committee on Friday.

For men, this says:

• A shirt with collar, either open neck or preferably with a tie

• Flannel trousers

• Black dress shoes

For women:

• A blouse, skirt or trousers

• Black dress shoes

Councillors are being recommended by the director of corporate services David Hume to agree the new code.

If they do, they will be following in the footsteps of several other local authorities in Scotland.

Renfrewshire Council brought in a code in January last year which banned cabbies from wearing training shoes, baseball caps, tracksuits, denims and casual t-shirts.

"I think I'm smart enough"

There was a mixed reaction among the drivers in Edinburgh approached by BBC Scotland.

One said: "I don't think it's a bad idea at all.

"I'm not on for the tie but I think dress sense in taxis should be pretty uniform."

Another said: "It doesn't have to be a uniform as such as long as it's trousers and shoes as opposed to shellsuits, tracksuits and trainers, you know?"

But a third was adamant: "No, I'm not into that at all really.

"I think I'm smart enough the way I'm dressed.

"If you're wearing a shirt and tie it's a bit stuffy sitting in one of these taxis all day, especially during the summer."

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