NEWS:

The car's pink and so is the tie, lipstick and flower in the hair of the woman who's driving it. Welcome to the new Beirut taxis. That is, if you're female. Men are strictly banned.

The idea was first launched in the UK in 2006 by Pink Ladies Cabs. The 100% female driving squad is charged with getting party-goers home safely once the bars have closed. Now, the concept has arrived in the Middle East. Nayaghi taxi company rolled out three pink Peugeots under the name "Banet Taxis" (girl taxis) on Tuesday.

Hand on heart, I don't have a problem with this. In Liverpool, where the private hire taxis are all fully licensed and agency operated, a woman driver can be requested if a female passenger feels uncomfortable with a male driver. In other cities, where anyone with a car can sit outside a club late at night and tout for passengers, the threat to a woman becomes very real. Liverpool private hire cars have to show their license on the rear of their vehicles and also on the inside, where a passenger can note the name of the driver, his picture, and his license number. They are also expected by law to have a plate on both sides of the car, showing the agency they are licensed with. By law, the car cannot pick up passengers unless they (the passenger) telephone the agency and book the car.
Basically, the drivers are displaying their name, address and telephone number for prospective passengers.
With some of the nut-cases knocking about, the idea of a lady driver only service is a damn good one.

David