Farewell Journey of the Taxi Yellow: A Gradual Departure
In Germany, the colour of taxis has been a subject of interest for many years. Contrary to popular belief, there is no uniform nationwide regulation specifying taxi colours for different states. However, a common standard has been established, making it easier for passengers to recognise official taxis across the country.
This consistent appearance is mainly due to the bright ivory colour (RAL 1015) that taxis were uniformly given in the early 70s. Georg Leber, the federal transport minister at the time, introduced this regulation with the intention of improving the recognizability of taxis in street traffic. The more noticeable bright colour tone was also intended to provide an additional safety benefit.
Despite regional differences, the majority (around 54 million) of Germans still live in a part of Germany where a taxi is always beige. In the south of the country, black cars are more common, while the further north, the more likely the vehicles are to be bright ivory. This discrepancy can be attributed to the practical considerations of the time, as bright beige was less likely to show dust, dirt, smaller dents, and damage.
However, it's important to note that some states have recently allowed taxis to have a free choice of colour. Six additional states, including Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Saxony-Anhalt, have allowed this flexibility. The state's transport minister, Lydia Hüskens (FDP), stated that the new regulation brings simplifications and economic advantages for the companies.
Despite this allowance, many taxi operators still choose bright ivory. Some skeptics still doubt whether the sign on the roof is clearly enough and whether a uniform colour would be a better regulation. The corresponding signage and the taxi light on the roof are still prescribed, ensuring that the vehicles remain recognizable as taxis at all times.
It's worth mentioning that approximately 29 million people in Germany live in a federal state without a fixed taxi colour. However, the vehicles must still be recognizable as taxis at all times, as the ministry in Magdeburg emphasizes.
Taxis in states like Saxony, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania remain in bright ivory. The choice of colour was not only practical but also symbolic, as a too conspicuous signal colour was not wanted, as taxis should appear discreet and serious, not flashy.
In conclusion, while there may be regional differences in the colour of taxis in Germany, the majority of taxis across the country are cream-coloured. This consistency, coupled with white and yellow taxi signs on their roofs, helps passengers easily identify official taxis despite the lack of state-specific colour regulations. The national norms that apply broadly rather than having distinct colour regulations per German state ensure a uniform and professional appearance for the country's taxi fleet.
- The finance industry could potentially profit from the recent changes in the transportation sector, as some states in Germany have permitted taxis to choose their own colors, offering new opportunities for vehicle branding and advertising.
- In the realm of the industry, the newfound flexibility in taxi color selection in several German states could lead to significant advancements, as it encourages competition and innovation, which are essential drivers in the finance sector.
