THE number of private hire drivers convicted for plying for hire across the Dudley borough has plummeted to just four in the last 12 months.

Figures released by the council show a steady decline from 21 in 2008/09 to 13 in 2011/12, ahead of the dramatic fall in 2012/13.

The borough’s taxis committee has refused to allow private hire cars in colours other than white on safety grounds, to help people know they are climbing into a bona fide taxi.

But Halesowen Cars boss Yvonne Nash said the fact that private hire drivers were not picking people up in the street added strength to their pleas to be allowed to buy vehicles in a second colour other than the rare and more expensive white.

She added: “There was a problem with people flagging down private hire cars, but it’s not a problem now, so I can’t understand why we should not be allowed to use vehicles in at least one other colour, as suitable white ones are so difficult to find.

“I would have thought that was safer than having a lot of old taxis on the road, some are as old as 20 years, because drivers can’t find suitable white replacements.”