Harry here. It seems like there’s no shortage of scary stories in the news about safety issues for Uber drivers. Today, RSG senior contributor John Ince takes a look at just how safe being a rideshare driver can be and what drivers should do to be prepared just in case.
By now most drivers have heard about the Taco Bell executive who attacked his Uber driver in a now infamous Youtube clip. But in case you missed that one, the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) has created the website, Who’s Driving You?
It’s obviously biased, but it paints a pretty damaging image of safety with a long list of frightening incidents. Whenever Uber or Lyft are pressed on the safety issue, they reflexively respond with a refrain that goes something like, the number of such incidents is very small in comparison to the millions of rides given every day.
But as the ridesharing platforms grow, they’re also expanding into socioeconomic sectors and regions that are prone to higher crime rates. In addition, Uber’s decision to test out cash payments in Colorado has raised concerns among many drivers. Due to all of this, many drivers rightly wonder whether this gig is really as safe as Uber and Lyft want us to think it is.
