Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Taxi Signs.

Michael Bell

Question:

13 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason the existing standard roof sign as displayed on taxi vehicles does not conform to Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations (Restriction on Colours) (Reg 41) which states that a vehicle's lights must be yellow or white to the front and red to the rear in view of the fact that the present taxi sign when illuminated clearly shows an amber light to the rear of the vehicle; his views on whether the present design of this roof sign could be a traffic hazard and that the rear panel of the taxi sign should display the colour red when illuminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24288/00]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

The requirements for taxi signs are set out in the Eighth Schedule of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations. The letters TAXI must be in yellow on a dark blue background. The rear-facing section of the sign to the left of TAXI and the front facing section to its right must have a yellow background with the licence number of the vehicle and the name of the licensing authority set out in black letters. The sign must be capable of being lit by an internal light. The reason for this specification is to identify the vehicle as a public service vehicle as distinct from any other commercial or private vehicle.

As an additional safeguard, the specification for a taxi sign includes the provision that the sign, when lit, may not show a red light to the front or a white light to the rear of the vehicle. This is generally in line with the requirement under lighting regulations that only white or yellow lights may show to the front of a vehicle and only red lights may show to the rear. It should be borne in mind that these lighting requirements are, strictly speaking, addressed to the front and side lamps and to rear lamps of vehicles only.

I apologise to the Deputy that, due to an inadvertent error, the reply to Question No. 206 of 15 November set out this position incorrectly. It has never been represented to my Department that this specification for taxi signs poses a traffic hazard.