Rideshare Problem: Is It The Passenger Or The Driver?

Since its inception, ride-sharing has forever changed the way we get around cities. But amidst all the convenience and perks comes a growing controversy: is Uber safe? Reports of crimes committed on these platforms are on the rise, and the safety of passengers and drivers alike is now a serious issue. From sexual assault to violent assault and murder, these platforms have taken a dark turn and many people are rightfully concerned about Uber safety. Is the convenience we get worth the risk? Are Ubers safe?

With the ride-sharing industry coming under greater scrutiny, the companies driving the trend have been forced to address safety issues squarely. The most prominent of these has been the management of background checks on drivers. But the problem runs deeper: crimes do still happen. This article explores the complex nature of ride-share safety, examining the dangers to passengers and drivers, the steps being taken by industry and technology to improve security, and what individuals can do to keep themselves safe.

The Rise of Rideshare Safety Concerns

The expansion of ride-sharing services has transformed urban transportation dynamics. While this service has proved to be convenient, it has also created a surge in safety concerns for both the passengers and the drivers. With the ride-sharing industry coming under greater scrutiny, the question of whether Ubers and other ride-sharing services are as safe as they seem has risen.

Background Check Controversies 

The issue of background checks for ride-sharing drivers has been a central area of controversy. Both Uber and Lyft have instituted screening regimes, sometimes allowing individuals with criminal records or driving violations to be approved to drive. For example, a driver had his fare rescue him from a would-be robber and then raped the woman in the backseat of the car. In Austin this spring, a finger-printing requirement for drivers ignited a fight over consumer rights versus safety.

High-Profile Incidents

The safety issues posed by ride-sharing have become a mainstream public issue in a handful of high-profile events. For instance, in 2019, a young woman – a student at the University of South Carolina – was murdered by someone who’d impersonated an Uber driver and coaxed her into getting into his car. Since then, the company and others have implemented new safety protocols for riders, and several states have introduced new laws ensuring them.

Statistical Overview of Safety Issues

While most ride-sharing trips are incident-free, the numbers are still troubling: in 2019, Uber reported more than 4,800 safety incidents on US rides, including sexual assaults, physical assaults, and motor vehicle deaths, between 2019 and 2020; Lyft, between 2017 and 2024, disclosed more than 4,000 sexual assault incidents. These numbers represent a minuscule percentage of the total number of rides but still indicate an ongoing safety problem.

However, the number of safety concerns has led these companies to take more precautions for their customers, and also has opened the topic to more legal criticism. While the question of whether ride-sharing is safe or not is still unresolved, companies and users attempt to weigh the convenience with the increased safety concerns within this new transportation market. 

Passenger Risk  and Precautions

As ride-sharing services have gained popularity, concerns about passenger safety have intensified. To address these issues, it's crucial for riders to take proactive measures to protect themselves during their journeys.

• Verifying Driver Identity

First, don’t forget to establish your driver’s identity before you get into the car. You can check the app to ensure you have your driver’s name, photo, and license plate number and that these match the driver who arrived. You can also ask the driver to confirm your name, which is an extra security step. Don’t say: ‘Are you here for [your name]?’ Say: ‘Who are you here to pick up?

• Sharing Trip Details

You can also maximize safety by using the app’s share trip function, which allows you to send the ride details (including the driver’s name, photo, license plate, and real-time location) to trusted contacts on Uber or Lyft. Friends or family members can follow your trip at any time. You can also screenshot and share your trip information with others through text.

It's important to maintain situational awareness at all times, paying attention to where the driver is going and speaking up when they take an unexplained detour. It’s best to sit in the back of the car whenever possible, drastically reducing the distance between the passenger and driver. We should also avoid giving out our home addresses or phone numbers to drivers to avoid stalking or harassment.

If something feels wrong, you should trust your instincts and act on them: call someone, cancel the ride through the app, ask the driver to pull over in a safe location, or use the emergency button within the Uber or Lyft app to call 911 or a safety agent.

Driver Safety Challenges

While a lot of attention has been paid to passenger safety, the lives of rideshare drivers are fraught with danger, too. The work they do – particularly at night or with drunk customers – exposes them to a range of risks and dangers.

Passenger Violence and Theft

Violent assaults and theft from passengers arehare drivers. They’ve even been carjacked, robbed, and beaten by fares. One Chicago Lyft driver was attacked and carjacked in March 2021 by a couple who demanded an unscheduled stop. When he reminded them not to eat in his car, the couple started to punch him and stole his car and his property.

Another concern for drivers is sexual violence: a small but upsetting number of drivers report harassment and assault – sometimes even sexual assault – by passengers. In one horrible story, an Atlanta Lyft driver was sexually assaulted by a passenger. He’d asked her to follow him home from the airport in the Lyft car and asked her to come into his apartment to pay for the ride with sex..

Late Night Risks

Drivers are most at risk when they travel between midnight and 6 a.m., as there are fewer cars on the road and potentially more drunk passengers. Accidents are three times more likely to happen after dark than during the day, as visibility is reduced and reaction times are shorter. Drivers should stay alert, check their vehicle lights frequently, and never stare directly into oncoming headlights to counteract these risks.

Dealing with Intoxicated Riders

Intoxicated passengers create a class of their own for rideshare drivers: they might be unpredictable, become aggressive, or destroy the vehicle's interior. Drivers must identify apparent signs of intoxication: slurred speech, unsteady gait, and the smell of alcohol. On the whole, they recognize these signs. Drivers are allowed – indeed, encouraged – to decline rides from passengers who appear too intoxicated. Yet, fear of a bad review and possible deactivation from the platform often leads drivers to pick up risky rides.

Conclusion