20/03/2026
THE STICKY DOOR SUBJECT
Summary or background trends
Taxi drivers in several UK cities, including Sheffield and Southampton, have been fighting to remove mandatory, permanent door stickers (livery) from their vehicles.
Key reasons for this, as detailed in recent reports, focus on safety and damage concerns:
Targeted Abuse: In Sheffield, drivers requested the removal of signage following reports of Asian drivers being targeted by protesters, with vehicles having stones thrown at them.
Driver Safety: Drivers feel the high-visibility signage makes them easy targets for violent incidents and verbal abuse.
Personal Use & Privacy: When working as private hire (PHV) drivers (e.g., for Uber or Veezu), they are often required to display branding, which remains visible when off-duty, affecting their privacy.
Property Damage: Permanent stickers are often difficult to remove, causing damage to vehicle bodywork and paint, which causes issues when selling the car.
Key Developments:
Sheffield: Despite reports of abuse and broken glass in vehicles, Sheffield City Council initially indicated no plans to change the policy, stating the policy aligns with Department for Transport guidance.
Wolverhampton: In contrast, Wolverhampton council recently decided to scrap mandatory door signage to align with national trends and safety concerns.
Southampton: Drivers in Southampton campaigned to be able to remove or cover their signage after a series of break-ins targeting their vehicles.
