Why taxis are yellow in colour ?... SEVEN REASONS !

Why taxis are yellow in colour ?... SEVEN REASONS !

PROF WAQAR HUSSAIN

          

     There are many reasons behind yellow colours of taxis. First, the most popular reason is that John Hertz, car salesman, decided in 1907 to start a taxi business on having surplus investment. Since taxis were to stand out in swarm of other cars. It was difficult for a passenger to identify taxi. So, Hertz went for scientific solution and chosen yellow colour. His decision was based on the survey conducted by University of Chicago which concluded that “yellow was the easiest colour to spot”. Research further suggested: “the colour yellow with a bit of red mixed in was the colour most visible from distance”. He started the taxi business in Chicago, creating the Yellow Cab Company in 1915.

           Secondly, some people object the above often told story and advocate that yellow taxi had already appeared in various cities of America before 1915. A businessman Albert Rockwell was operating a fleet of yellow cabs as early as 1909. Legend behind Rockwell selection of yellow colour was to appease her wife Nettie, who preferred and liked yellow colour.

           Third, yellow colour is easy to be identified thereby avoids embarrassment of passengers and averts annoyance of private vehicle owners.

           Fourth, yellow is an uncommon colour for personal vehicles which are often in other colours like white, black, grey, brown, etc. Yellow was very infrequent so it was easier to pick a dissimilar coloured taxi.

           Fifth, some explain yellow colour in Rayleigh’s Scattering Law which says: Colours with longer wavelength experience less scattering and thus are visible even from longer distance. So, yellow colour, which is among colours of longer wavelength, was selected for taxis to be seen from a distance.

         Sixth, some say yellow is the symbol for “ready”. When you see yellow light in traffic signal, you become ready. So, taxis are painted yellow as they are “ready” to go anywhere.

        Seventh, some give reason that yellow colour doesn’t fade easily, even some other colours fades to become yellow and taxis are to stand or run in the sunlight all the time. That is why yellow colour is picked for taxis.

         What is the net outcome of above reasons; it is the unusual colour which also has properties of gleaming and visibility from a distance. Thus it became popular all over the world. However, now taxis have other colours too especially in small cities where just plate of taxi is sufficient otherwise the predominant colour of taxis is still yellow.