Are rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft safe?
This is a question that we as a society have been asking since the two apps’ releases in 2010 and 2012 respectively. Everyone was wary at first. We had been told ‘don’t get in a strangers car!’ so much that the idea of getting in a car with a stranger, and paying them, seemed insane! And, in the beginning, we were right! Both of these apps were risky for the user. As have been noted in Ankin Law Office’s Are Rideshare Companies Doing Enough to Protect Passengers?, “Uber and Lyft… are currently under investigation for numerous allegations of physical assaults, rapes and sexual assaults… and other forms of inappropriate conduct by their drivers.” In both this article and the article When Uber Drivers Are Drunk, they note that the majority of the problems have blossomed from 2014-2018. However, both articles are semi-outdated, and a lot has changed in the last three years. We aren’t hearing as much about Uber and Lyft issues. It’s not major news, and the apps are still running strong.
So, are rideshare apps safer now? What are these apps doing to ensure our safety?
Well, first things first, Uber and Lyft have both implemented background checks on their drivers before they can begin work. These implementations began back in 2018, a whopping 8 and 6 years after the apps’ release dates (insane, I know!). Unlike apps like Postmates or Doordash, where you download the app, put in your bank account information, and are off to the races, you do have to complete a background check to be a driver for these rideshares. As CNN stated in their 2018 article Uber tightens driver background checks, “Checkr’s background checks typically screen potential Uber drivers’ records within the past seven years. Driver candidates cannot have a conviction for a felony, violent crime or sexual offenses, or a registration on the US Department of Justice National Sex Offender public website.” It is also worth noting that even though they said they would be tracking more criminal offenses in real time, they have not released which 3rd-party would be doing so. That leads to a doubt: do they really have a 3rd-party tracking offenses, or are they just saying that for face, since it took them seven years to implement background checks? It’s important to note as well that they also do not require fingerprinting in any state except New York, where it is mandated. So, you can rest easy knowing that your Uber driver has not committed a felony in the last seven years.
But what about popular rideshare app, Lyft?
Lyft is actually doing a little more to keep you safe. As according to HyreCar’s 2020 article Lyft Background Checks: Everything You Need to Know, “Lyft uses a third-party company to complete their background checks, called Sterling BackCheck. This company will use your social security number to perform an extensive check on your driving history and criminal records (if applicable). This check complies with federal and state standards.” Lyft not only does an extensive background check, more than the 7-year period that Uber does, but they also reveal who their background checking company is, as we can see, Sterling BackCheck. Even better than both of these, is the fact that they look at what’s pretty important: driving record. So, although they also fail to fingerprint their drivers, they at least do more research.
Now, we know that Lyft has the upper hand of safety when it comes to rideshare apps and background checks, but what happens after you get hired? Are you free bird? As long as you have your license, are you free to work, to tote, and to tear up the town? Well, for Uber, the answer is unclear at best. In the Uber driver’s help FAQ, under the question “Why is Uber running another background check report“ they state “To maintain safety standards, Uber reruns your background check annually at a minimum (in some cities, more frequently). This is required in order to retain access to the Uber app. Uber may also request additional background checks during the term of your relationship with Uber.” It does not sound like they are really going out there to try and make sure these people are clean. They say ‘may’ and ‘minimum’ a little too much to be comfortable. It also doesn’t say what warrants an extra background check. How does Lyft stand in the light? According the aforementioned Lyft Background Checks article, “Lyft doesn’t only perform this background check when you apply. They also perform yearly checks, and re-run all of your information to make sure you haven’t had any changes in your driving record or criminal history. So, even if you are accepted as a Lyft driver, you’ll want to keep your driving record clean to avoid deactivation.“
So, to summarize so far, Uber does not easily reveal their background check party, they do background checks for only felonies in the last 7 years, and do annual background checks. Lyft does a background check for any crimes and driving records, does frequent checks, and openly describes which party they use.
It would appear that to a degree, yes, both rideshare apps are generally safe for their users, and has been getting safer as the years progress. It appears that although they cost about the same, Lyft is safer than Uber.
But, the next question to be asked is: what can these companies do to make their programs safer for everyone; the drivers and the riders?
Well, the first thing is most definitely fingerprinting. Fingerprinting is actually required in almost every state. A quick search asking whether Lyft or Uber does fingerprint brings up dozens of results stating they don’t, but that they are under heavy pressure from state officials requesting that they do. So, the first obvious answer to this question is to start requiring fingerprinting.
In addition to fingerprinting, Uber has a few ideas on what they can do to make their rides safer for both riders and drivers, and it is the best ideas we have at the moment. According to Here’s what Uber says it’s doing to make your next ride safer, a 2019 article published on The Points Guy, Uber is adding preventative safety measures such as verification of drivers with a PIN code, implementing a sexual misconduct training for drivers (something that should be required nation-wide, for schools and jobs alike), recording the audio in a car, a feature called “Ride Check” that will use the accessible Uber GPS to detect if anything has gone wrong with the vehicle, and will prompt the driver and the passenger to call 911, or say that everything is fine.
Lyft has successfully implemented at least two of these features, as described on their website. They have both a shareable ride feature, in which you can allow a friend or family member to follow you in real-time, and sexual-misconduct education for all drivers.
What is excellent about the “Ride Check” and shareable ride features is the fact that it also keeps the driver safe. There have been some cases where passengers have hurt drivers. With these two features, the driver has easy access to be able to call the police, and more people are aware of the car if it is not going where it should be going.
So, the answer to the question is yes.
Rideshare apps, as of 2020, are safe and continue to get safer. Although Lyft appears to be leading the safety charge while Uber falls behind, it isn’t a gap big enough to be largely concerned by. And besides what has already been implemented, the planned implementations are enough that there are very few suggestions to be made.
Use them at your disposal, and remember: its 2020. You’re in good hands.
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