While rideshare companies offer useful services to people who are looking for a quick, efficient, and fairly inexpensive form of travel, there are negligent drivers that put passengers at risk. Any driver, whether they’re working for a rideshare company or not, can be reckless behind the wheel. Based on how rideshare companies work, however, it’s important to question if the systems indirectly encourage drivers to ignore or break traffic laws.

The Flaws of the Rideshare System

Uber and Lyft work in a similar way, and the system is fairly simple. Smartphones connect drivers with riders. When a person requests a ride, a nearby driver can accept the request. The rider is given an estimated time of arrival and is notified when their driver arrives. When the rider enters the vehicle, the driver will confirm the drop-off point and start the ride. Once the car reaches the destination, the rider exits and they are automatically charged for the fare on the preferred payment method. Some cities give riders the option to pay cash. When the trip ends, both parties are asked to rate each other.

Companies like Uber and Lyft are supposed to hire reliable drivers who get paying passengers where they need to go. Unfortunately, there are those out there that try to abuse the system and the passenger pays the price. While some scams could result in financial loss or a missed appointment, others could result in death. Whether you frequently use a rideshare service or are new to the system, it’s important to be aware of the common scams and how to avoid them.

In Pennsylvania, Uber operates their business under the subsidiary Rasier-PA. In May 2018, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) audited the company and determined their driver background check process and safety features were inadequate. There are, however, steps Uber can take to better screen drivers for safety violations and improve riders’ experiences.

Prior to working as a driver for Uber, prospects are required to undergo a series of background checks. This includes their personal information, employment history, motor vehicle record, and criminal record. All the background checks are conducted by Checkr, and a team from Rasier-PA evaluates the results to make a final decision. Once the person has been cleared, they can activate their driver profile and begin accepting rides.

On March 4, 2019, prosecutors in Arizona from the Yavapai County Attorney’s office said they had not found evidence to charge Uber for any crime related to the accident in Tempe, where one of the company’s autonomous vehicles hit and killed a pedestrian.

On March 18, 2019, Elaine Herzberg was hit by one of Uber’s self-driving Volvo sport utility vehicles. The SUV was traveling about 40 miles per hour. At the time, Herzberg had been walking her bicycle across the street at night. Even though the car was driving itself, there was a safety driver in the driver’s seat. When the crash occurred, the safety driver was streaming a television show on her phone. While she grabbed the steering wheel to swerve at the last second, she did not start braking until after impact.

When rideshare services like Uber and Lyft first became popular around 2010, they changed how many individuals were transported in cities and towns on a daily basis. Instead of walking or taking public transportation, people starting using ridesharing apps to order rides. While passengers have generally benefited from the services, there are significant costs associated with ridesharing. Among those costs is an increase in the loss of human life – particularly in big cities.

Economists associated with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business published a study called “The Cost of Convenience: Ridesharing and Traffic Fatalities.” According to that study, ridesharing is associated with an increase of two to three percent of fatal traffic accidents and car accident fatalities. This includes vehicle occupants, pedestrians, cyclists, and bystanders.