Yellow to become a no no for private cars in Panama

If you are one of the few people in Panama who like to drive around in a canary yellow car, get ready for a new paint job.

 From January 2011 private cars will no longer be able to travel the roads with the color that taxis have been obliged to adopt.
Some companies that have vehicles painted yellow as a distinguishing feature may get an exemption said Marcos Mora, Senior Office Assistant of the transport Authority and (ATTT).

 He said that yellow will be used exclusively for selected transport, and that the decision was taken by the board of the institution.

While the new ruling is not yet law, it has already generated negative reactions.

The Institute of Consumer and User protection (Ipadecu), said the decision is a "violation of the right to freedom of consumption."

Giovanni Fletcher, president of Ipadecu, said the move will represent an extra expense for many people, adding that since the beginning the ATTT should have chosen a single shade of yellow to distinguish between selective and private vehicles.

Currently, taxis are painted with different shades of yellow.

However, Rafael Reyes, president of the National Union of Workers of Taxis, is not disatisfied with the decision.

"We are concerned about unfair competition from many drivers who use their cars as yellow taxi pirates, risking the safety of passengers," he said.

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