JUNE 23, 2016 - Uber gets nailed..... we told ya.... and told ya..
Uber says it’s not to blame for unsafe drivers
TOM KRISHER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DETROIT — When you catch a ride using Uber or Lyft, you do so at your own risk.
Under terms and conditions that riders agree to — but few read — at
sign up, the app-based ride-hailing companies say they aren’t legally
liable for the safety of their drivers or the quality of their services.
That’s because the drivers are independent contractors, not employees.
The terms seem to be at odds with company statements that highlight
their efforts to keep riders safe with driver background checks, a code
of conduct and other measures.
Instead, if a rider is injured in a ride-hailing car, the driver
appears to be liable. If a driver gets lost and makes a rider late for
an appointment, or if a driver assaults someone, the company says it’s not involved.
Uber “does not guarantee the quality, suitability, safety or ability
of third-party providers (drivers),” its terms say. Riders also agree
that the “entire risk arising out of your use of the services, and any
service or good requested in connection therewith, remains solely with you.”
“That’s just a real eye opener,” says Stephen Saltzburg, a law
professor at George Washington University and frequent Uber user, who
admits he didn’t read the terms. “If Uber is so confident in the checks
and all of this, why is it so anxious to try to shift liability to the
user?”
Lyft’s terms say
it has “no control over the quality or safety of the transportation
that occurs as a result of the services.” The company also tells
drivers that they are responsible for all liability.
“The language in the terms of service is a reflection of the reality
that people using the platform are on the open road in moving vehicles,
which presents a risk,” spokeswoman Alexandra LaManna says.
Uber doesn’t take on the liability risk of drivers because they are
independent contractors, which is common in many industries, says
spokeswoman Taylor Patterson. “It doesn’t detract in any way from the
fact that we take safety very seriously,” she says.
Uber’s app shows riders the driver’s name, license plate number,
photo and ratings from other riders. The app also lets friends track a
route in real time, says Patterson.
Both Uber and Lyft carry $1 million in liability insurance that covers
each driver while en route to pick up a passenger or while carrying
one. The policy becomes the primary insurance covering the driver.
Several apps that summon taxicabs have liability waivers in terms and
conditions that are similar to Uber and Lyft. But many taxis are
different. Riders in New York City who get cabs in conventional ways,
for instance, do not have to agree to any terms, said Allan Fromberg,
spokesman for the city taxi commission.
The liability waivers also are being tested in court.
Two women who say they were sexually assaulted by Uber drivers in
Massachusetts and South Carolina sued last fall, saying Uber misled
them about safety. The women say they didn’t explicitly agree to terms
and conditions, which they weren’t required to read before getting
accounts. They seek damages and changes to safety practices including
driver fingerprint background checks.
Uber sought to dismiss the case, saying the plaintiffs couldn’t prove
drivers were employees. But a federal judge in San Francisco said there
is a sufficient argument that the drivers were Uber employees and that
Uber’s background check should have revealed a previous assault charge
against one of them. The judge also disputed Uber’s argument that it’s a
transportation “broker” and not a common carrier. A 1956 case in which a
Pullman Co. railroad employee raped a passenger established that
transportation carriers have a duty to protect passengers, the judge
said.
A trial is scheduled for March.
People can still be legally bound by the terms if they don’t read
them, says Saltzburg. The terms could hold up in court with Uber’s
argument that it merely offers a platform to link riders and drivers, he
says.
Uber: A Smart
Company That Hasn't Been So Smart Managing Its Image
QUOTE:
1.
Privacy concerns.
According to Venturebeat,
Uber has just finished the worst
public relations week in its history. What once was looked upon as a brilliant
and disruptive grass-roots company is now being seen as an arrogant bunch of
whiz kids who may be willing to play it fast and loose with the privacy of its
users.
Uber customers are becoming
increasingly alarmed by Mr. Michael's comment that "Uber could see the
comings and goings of any of its customers using something it calls its 'God
View.'
APRIL 17, 2016- JUST IN
CREEPY #UBER- we told ya- no rules Uber- just ur life-
Toronto-area Uber driver charged with sexual assault TORONTO
York Regional Police say the incident happened shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning when a woman in her 30s used the Uber app to arrange a ride in Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto.
Police say the driver took the woman to a parking lot in nearby Markham where she was allegedly sexually assaulted.
They say Uber has been co-operative in the investigation.
Bayat is due in court later today for a bail hearing.
Susie Heath, a spokeswoman for Uber, said in an email that the company takes "every safety incident very seriously and are committed to the safety of everyone who uses Uber.''
"Upon hearing of this disturbing incident, we immediately removed the driver from the platform and contacted York Regional Police to offer our assistance and have supported them in their investigation,'' she added.
APRIL 25, 2016
GREEDY #UBER- CANADA MAYOR HERO- #Uber will never pay 4
accidents of victims of nosecurity check drivers Canada
------------------
Insurer
cancelling policies of UberX drivers | Toronto Star
www.thestar.com › News › City Hall
1.
2.
Oct
31, 2015 - An
unnamed “tipster” provided Aviva's anti-fraud team with
receipts including ... up and drop off fare-paying passengers using a smartphone app owned byUber, ... By ensuring they have the proper insurance; Uber drivers are ...
Insurance industry issues warning over Uber - Toronto Sun
www.torontosun.com/2015/.../insurance-industry-issues-warning-over-u...
1.
2.
Jul
30, 2015 - Insurance industry
officials warn that Uber drivers
don't have the proper ... Uber driver
accused of sexual assault on South Carolina passenger ...
HEADS UP-FEB. 20 2016- USA
Police: Kzoo shooting suspect was Uber driver http://wp.me/p4yStY-O35
via @woodtv
===============
COMMENT: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TAXIS AND UBER Canada -
The difference between Uber drivers and taxi drivers is that one pays overhead for regulation, all taxes and fees, carries commercial insurance to protect the passenger, third parties and driver and as well must provide service in all areas and at all times where they are licensed to drive. The fees charged cannot exceed regulated costs and allowable profits determined by a regulator.
The other is not subject to personal or vehicle inspection, is part of a conspiracy to avoid lawful fees and taxes, does not carry insurance to protect themselves, the passenger or third parties, is under no obligation to provide service coverage in any area or time and participates in predatory pricing practices.
Uber on the other hand has no obligations to anyone but itself, changes fees without regard to driver costs, misleads about probale income and provides an environment that encourages illegal activity.
The other is not subject to personal or vehicle inspection, is part of a conspiracy to avoid lawful fees and taxes, does not carry insurance to protect themselves, the passenger or third parties, is under no obligation to provide service coverage in any area or time and participates in predatory pricing practices.
Uber on the other hand has no obligations to anyone but itself, changes fees without regard to driver costs, misleads about probale income and provides an environment that encourages illegal activity.
UBER-99% of Canada's 36M want u regulated like taxis b4 someone gets killed with your lousy criminal record checks and no insurance to passengers, no formal municipal, provincial legislations- WTF- this is the real world- NOT SOCIAL MEDIA...
Regulate Uber Like Taxis, Canadians Say
---------------------------
UBER UBER UBER- ur life more impt than $$-
Uber failed 2 prioritize safety complaint on Kalamazoo suspect b4 rampage
http://gu.com/p/4hxet/stw
------------------------
JUST IN FROM YAHOO...
UBER-
put clients first -get legal- when horrific accidents happen u cannot continue
to live somewhere over the sociamedianet.... years and years of suffering and
surgery follows sometimes ...been there..done that.... get legal UBER... OR
STAY AWAY FROM CANADA PLS... unless those are foolish enough not to care....
imho
Inside
the revolt against Uber in Canada and abroad
via
@Yahoocanada
-----------------------------------
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE
Operations Division : Traffic Section : Collision Investigation Unit | Traffic Enforcement Unit | Traffic Services Unit | Traffic Support Team | Traffic FAQs
Taxi Team
The Taxi Team is responsible for the administration and
enforcement of taxis and limousines operating in the City of Vancouver. The
Team works closely with the City Licensing Department who issues and revokes
vehicle-for-hire licenses.
The Taxi Team consists of one constable, whose duties involve:
- screening new drivers for
basic geographical skills, performing background checks and administering
a general knowledge test to taxi applicants
- recording and resolving
complaints regarding taxi drivers’ behaviour and actions
- inspection of taxi cabs and
limousines to ensure good mechanical condition and cleanliness
A taxi is defined under Section 32.01 of the MVAR as a
motor vehicle having a seating capacity of not more than 10 persons, which with
its driver is operated or plied for hire by members of the public. This
definition would include all taxis and sedans, limousines and SUV-style
limousines.
VPD Taxi Team
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I drive a taxi
or limousine. Am I exempt from wearing my seatbelt?
A: Taxi drivers are exempt from wearing seatbelts at speeds
less than 70 Kmh under Section 32.03 of the Motor Vehicle Act regulations.
Q: I am a visitor
to Vancouver. Does my infant / child have to be in a child restraint or booster
seat when travelling in a taxi?
A: The driver or operator of a taxi is exempt from the
Child Seating and Restraint regulations under Section 36.09(b) of the MVAR.
Q: Is the driver of
my taxi supposed to display an identification card on the vehicle?
A: Any driver operating a taxi from one of the four
licenced Vancouver taxi companies (Yellow Cab, Black Top / Checker, McLure's
and Vancouver Taxi) must display their identification card as required under
Section 23(23) of the Vancouver Vehicle for Hire Bylaw 6066.
Chauffeur's Permits
Frequently Asked Questions
Holders of Chauffeur’s Permits (CP) in the City of
Vancouver are required to make themselves aware of all Municipal, Provincial
and Federal regulations related to operating a taxi or limousine. Some common
questions are:
Q: What
"form" do I need from the police to apply or re-apply for my
Chauffeur’s Permit?
A: Application Forms: VPD
652-Chauffeur & Vehicle for Hire Permit Application and VPD
655 Chauffeur & Vehicle for Hire Renewal Application.
Q: What training do
I have to complete prior to applying for a Chauffeur’s Permit in the city of
Vancouver?
A: Taxi driver applicants must complete training as set out
in the Vehicle for Hire Bylaw 6066, commonly referred to as Taxi Host and Taxi
Host Pro.
Q: What class of
license must I have to drive a taxi or limousine?
A: A valid class 4, 2 or 1 British Columbia driver’s
license.
Q: Must I display
my Chauffeur’s Permit in the City of Vancouver?
A: Chauffeur’s Permits issued by the City of Vancouver to
taxi drivers must be displayed on the dash of the taxi cab. Limousine drivers
must have a Chauffeur’s Permit, but are not required to display their permits.
Q: Can I drive for
a taxi or limousine company outside the City of Vancouver with my Vancouver
issued permit?
A: No, the permit issued by the City of Vancouver is only
valid for the Vancouver licensed company you have been hired by to drive a taxi
or limousine.
Q: How long is my
Chauffeur’s Permit valid?
A: Chauffeur’s Permits issued in the City of Vancouver are
valid for two years and will expire on your birthdate.
Q: What are the
types of offences or convictions that will prohibit a person from being a
successful applicant for a Chauffeur’s Permit or renewal/cancellation of a
Chauffeur’s Permit?
A: Applicants should be aware that some types of offences
or convictions may result in your permit being denied, suspended or cancelled
including, but not limited to:
- any conviction for a sexual
offence (suspension indefinite)
- any criminal conviction for
a criminal offence related to the profession in the previous three years
- a conviction of three or
more Motor Vehicle offences in the preceding two years while driving a
vehicle for hire
- a driving prohibition for
alcohol or drugs in the preceding three years while driving a vehicle for
hire
- use of or dealing in
narcotics or drugs
-------------
NOVA SCOTIA- u shoulda known UBER -and NO insurance 4 clients WTF??
Taking on Uber: New mobile app Gata hits Halifax
http://newsvader.com/taking-on-uber-new-mobile-app-gata-hits-halifax-id-16127486110
http://newsvader.com/taking-on-uber-new-mobile-app-gata-hits-halifax-id-16127486110
-----------
------------
How to apply for a taxicab licence
In
Toronto, taxi drivers, owners and brokerages must be licensed. For all
licences and the driver list, you must apply in person at the Licence
& Permit Issuing Office at East York
Civic Centre at 850 Coxwell Ave, on the 3rd floor.
Taxicab Training
Taxicab
Drivers' Licence
In
order to apply to be a taxicab driver, you must provide the following:
Who can apply
|
Individuals.
|
How to apply
|
Applicants
can apply in person at the Licence & Permit Issuing Office at East York
Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell, 3rd floor.
|
Application fee *
|
$ 662.82 ($362.18 base
fee + $224.93 course fee base fee + $75.71 CPR fee)
View all business, trades, and profession application and renewal fees. |
Identification
|
Two pieces of government-issued identification,
including:
1. proof of work status, such as a Canadian Passport
or Citizenship Card, Permanent Resident Card, Work Permit, Canadian Birth
Certificate; and
2. a valid photo ID such as a Driver's Licence, Photo
Identification Card, Canadian Passport.
Note that Health Cards are not accepted. |
Criminal reference checks
|
Applicants must provide a
criminal reference check issued by a Canadian Police Service within 280 days
prior to the application. Learn more here.
|
Applicants must register for CPR or provide proof
of completion of an equivalent course.
|
|
Photo
|
A photo will be taken at the Licence and Permit
Issuing Office at the time of application.
|
Minimum age to hold licence
|
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older
to apply.
|
After
a completed application is submitted:
·
the applicant must complete a 17-day city-approved taxicab training program;
·
ML&S staff will obtain a copy of the applicant's
Driving Record Abstract to ensure the applicant does
not have any infractions that would prevent them from obtaining a licence, as
per Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing, Appendix K, Business
Licensing Thresholds; and
·
upon successful completion of the course, applicants
will be required to submit a medical certificate which advises they are fit to
work as a taxicab driver.
Taxicab
Owner's Licences
In
order to become a Taxicab Owner's licence, the applicant must first obtain a
Taxicab Driver's licence. After obtaining the Taxicab Driver's licence,
there are two ways to become a taxicab owner in Toronto.
Option One:
From
time to time, new Toronto Taxicab Licences (TTL) will be issued from
the drivers' list. New licences are
subject to all applicable fees and conditions.
To
be added to the drivers' list:
·
you must be a full-time taxicab driver for the
past three years
·
you cannot have owned a taxicab in the past five
years
You
must apply in person at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office at
East York Civic Centre at 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd floor.
Option Two:
You
can purchase an existing Standard, Ambassador or Toronto Taxicab Licence (TTL)
taxicab. When you purchase the taxicab, you will be issued a TTL, and be
subject to all applicable fees and conditions.
Fees
Taxicab
owner licence fees vary by type of licence.
Taxicab Owners' Licence
|
Application fee
|
Accessible
|
$502.76
|
Standard
|
$4983.33
($4,907.62 base fee + $75.71 CPR fee)
|
Toronto Taxicab Licence (TTL)
|
$4983.33
($4,776.92 base fee + $224.93 course fee base fee + $75.71 CPR fee)
|
Other
application requirements for taxicab owners
Taxicab
Broker (Brokerage) Licence
In
order to apply for a brokerage licence, you must provide the following:
Item
|
Description
|
Fee
|
$402.78
application fee
|
Two pieces of government-issued identification
|
Proof of work status, a Canadian Passport or
Citizenship Card, Permanent Resident Card, Work Permit, Canadian Birth
Certificate. A valid photo ID such as a Driver's Licence, Photo Identification
Card, Canadian Passport. Health Cards are
not accepted as a form of ID.
|
Business documents
|
your provincial name registration (original or
copy) or franchise agreement for the operating name of your business
|
A criminal background check for each owner, which
may be an individual (sole proprietor), partner (in partnership), officer and
director (of a corporation).
|
|
Photo
|
A photo will be taken at the Licence and Permit
Issuing Office at the time of application.
|
Taxicab owners
|
A list of taxicab owners
|
Brokerage fees
|
A list of brokerage fees
|
Once
your application is submitted, ML&S staff will contact Zoning to verify
that your property is appropriately zoned for your business.
For
complete application and operating requirements for all licences, visit Toronto
Municipal Code Chapter
545, Licensing.
Applicants
must also satisfy the Business Licensing Thresholds in
Appendix K.
Updates
Contact
us about licences
Licence & Permit Issuing Office
East
York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd
Floor
Located
at Coxwell and Mortimer.
Open
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on statutory holidays.
Information
line:
416-392-6700
E-mail:
Fax:
416-392-4515
7 Reasons I'm Not On Board With Uber
·
George HobicaSyndicated
travel journalist and founder of Airfarewatchdog.com
·
·
·
It's
common practice in the tech world to rush your product to market, picking up
the pieces as you go. This works fine when you're in the business of selling
ideas, or soft-serve ice cream delivery (somebody do this, please), or
artisanal organic laundry service. Get it out there, apologize in advance that
nothing's perfect, do better next time. No harm done.
Then there's a product like Uber. Uber, if you're just
joining the conversation, is supposed to change the way city dwellers think
about transportation. It's supposed to put taxis out of business, or at least
make them change their wicked ways.
Look, that's fine. I've been riding cabs in New York City
for years. Mostly it's not a big deal. Rarely is the experience pleasant.
And let's face it, cabbies in some cities are
crooks. Even a few of them in New York. Lots of them in Athens.
A little healthy competition? Sign me up.
But not like this. Let's be clear: Uber has made a really
slick little app. But when you fire it up and summon a driver, you're putting
your life in their hands. Is that driver insured properly? Does he have
liability insurance? Is it current or did it expire last week? Who's checking?
What's the company's liability if you're injured in a crash? What are the local
laws? What protections are there in your market?
Ask Uber these things and they'll smother you with smooth
talk. That's fine. Uber is a corporation, just like any other, caring most
about protecting itself and making money. But don't we have a right to know if
we're protected, too? Should a company that thinks it's perfectly fine to
operate illegally be supported?
You'll pardon me if I stick to cabs for now -- here are,
what I feel, seven very good reasons you should do the same.
#1
Uber not only flaunts regulation, it thinks it has the right to go unregulated.
On one hand, I admire Uber's strategy -- become popular
enough with users, rules of the market be dammed, then enlist users to bully
local officials into letting you operate there. Most of the time, it seems to
work -- some jurisdictions have even publicly stated that banning Uber would be
bad for business. What city can afford to say no to one of the hottest new toys
of the tech-savvy crowd? Other times, they get cease-and-desist letters (as
happened in Houston), because the tech-savvy crowd, at Uber's behest, won't
stop harassing City Hall. In France, two Uber executives have been indicted for
enabling illegal taxi services and illegal data storage (they go on trial this
month unless their lawyers can argue for a further delay). And in Capetown,
South Africa, police have impounded dozens of illegally operated Uber cars.
Again - it's all well and good to disrupt the marketplace, but this is a car
service. Safety is a huge issue, and no company is above the rule of law. I
don't see how it's wrong to expect a corporation to think it's okay to break
safety and licensing rules, just to get their product rolled out in a few new
markets faster.
#2
When things go bad, Uber plays that always-annoying "what, who, us?"
game.
There have been too many instances of this, but one really
sticks out: A young girl crossing the street with her mother in San Francisco
back in December was killed by a motorist who told cops he was
working for Uber. Uber immediately released a statement saying he was not
working for Uber, then released another statement clarifying that he was indeed
logged on to the Uber app but not doing business for Uber at the time -- in
other words, he was between passengers, which, according to Uber, meant they
bore no responsibility. After all, you see, Uber isn't a transportation
company, as they'll delight in telling you. They're a technology company.
Drivers download the app and passengers hope for the best. If anything goes
wrong? Uber has a bad habit of washing their hands. A wrongful-death lawsuit
has been filed against the company.
#3
Uber doesn't screen its drivers adequately.
A driver in San Francisco that attacked a passenger
physically and verbally was later found to have passed Uber's
"zero-tolerance" background check with flying colors, despite a colorful criminal history. Another in
Los Angeles bragged to NBC that she had a "three-page rap sheet." A
test of drivers in Chicago revealed that many of them had almost zero knowledge of the city,
which at the very least, is a disservice to passengers.
#4
Cabbies may not be angels, but neither are Uber drivers.
Where to start -- the Los Angeles driver who held a woman's phone hostage for a $500 ransom,
after she left in in her car? Uber apologized, deactivated the driver's account
and essentially told the passenger to cross her fingers and hope for the best.
Back in Chicago, another driver sexually assaulted his female passenger,
landing the company in legal hot water. Give them credit, I guess -- this time,
they actually acknowledged the complaint, as opposed to playing
the "she's lying" card. (Always a classy move.)
#5
The company's response to the growing chorus of negativity? Slap a surcharge on
their customers.
Oh, wait, so you want a safe ride with a driver who doesn't
know how to make toilet wine in his or her prison cell? Fine, says Uber: Please
note our new $1 "Safe Rides Fee." That's right -- users of their
ride-sharing network, called UberX, now pay this fee every single time they ride, in
order to "support the increased costs associated with our continued
efforts to ensure the safest platform for Uber riders and drivers." So
what they're saying is, fine everyone -- you want deeper background checks,
more driver safety education and better insurance? Pay for it yourself. That
kind of tells me everything I need to know about the way Uber thinks. Later for
that.
#6
They treat their employees badly.
When Uber first started, there were fewer drivers chasing
fares. But as the company has added "contractors" (Uber refuses to
call them employees), driver pay has gone down in some cities as competition
from other drivers has increased. As one former driver told The Washington Post, “I had to pay taxes, gas,
mileage and for car maintenance and repairs. I was spending time and making $3
per hour.” As it added drivers, Uber began cutting rates, taking higher
commissions for itself, and adding driver fees such as a $10 fee for using the
booking app. Another driver told the PBS Newshour, "With the rate cuts you
basically break even. With some rides, you might actually be losing
money."
#7
Their terms of service are stacked against customers and drivers.
Uber's terms of service are written for its own benefit,
not its passengers or contractors. As with many terms of service these days,
you must submit to arbitration rather than suing Uber if you're harmed in any
way. And I quote:
UBER DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY,
SUITABILITY, SAFETY OR ABILITY OF THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS. YOU AGREE THAT THE
ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES, AND ANY SERVICE OR GOOD
REQUESTED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, REMAINS SOLELY WITH YOU, TO THE MAXIMUM
EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.
And..
UBER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING …
PERSONAL INJURY, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE RELATED TO, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR
OTHERWISE RESULTING FROM ANY USE OF THE SERVICES, EVEN IF UBER HAS BEEN ADVISED
OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Anyway, one day Uber may not even be a thing. Enter
self-driving cars from Google, Tesla, and other automakers. Perhaps in a
decade, perhaps sooner, you'll use an app to summon a driverless ride. It will
take you to your destination by the shortest route every time. And it will be
safer than any human driver. And no tipping required. And for that, I am
definitely on board.
---------------
QUOTE: Both
TfL and Uber admit that they don't have a
zero tolerance policy for drivers with a criminal record, instead
insisting they take each driver as a case by case scenario.
UBER-
Do you REALLY know who's driving you
home?
The festive season is upon us and many will find themselves
ordering a taxi or private cab to take them home at the end of big night. But
how safe is it to get into a car with a stranger?
PUBLISHED: 09:00, Thu, Dec 31, 2015
How safe are you in an Uber?
US taxi app Uber was first introduced to the UK in 2012,
becoming a huge hit with Londoners as an alternative to the often pricey black
cabs. It’s since launched in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle,
Sheffield, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh and Portsmouth.
But how safe is the Uber that you’re hailing? And this
festive season, do you really know who's driving you home?
In November, Uber driver Samson Haile was jailed for
sexually assaulting a female customer in the back of his taxi after picking her
up.
And earlier this month, a young mother in South London
claimed she’d been punched in the face by her Uber Driver.
GETTY
The Uber app has become very popular in the UK
An official spokesperson for Uber states that every driver
on the app has gone through the same checks as London’s black cab drivers.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, a spokesperson for
the taxi app said: "Private hire companies, such as Uber, come under the
umbrella of TfL, Transport for London. Drivers who are licensed for private
hire are subject to exactly the same background checks as black cab drivers
before they receive their license."
TFL told us black cab drivers will have to undergo an
intensive training course for around four years before they are licensed.
Uber drivers training process is not as lengthy. They will
have to undergo a topographical assessment and be tested on how to plot
journeys and read maps.
But whilst Uber has come under fire on a number of
occasions in the US for failing to properly vet their drivers, both TFL and
Uber insist their drivers go through the same vetting process.
A spokesperson for Uber says: "Both black cab drivers
and private hire drivers have to undergo the same enhanced DBS check -
Disclosure and Barring Service - looking into the prospective driver's criminal
record."
Both TfL and Uber admit that they don't have a zero
tolerance policy for drivers with a criminal record, instead insisting they
take each driver as a case by case scenario.
TFL assured us that they would never license a driver they
felt was a threat to members of the public.
But national spokesperson for Rape Crisis in England &
Wales, Katie Russell tells the Express she believes TFL should implement a zero
tolerance policy with all drivers who have been previously convicted of violent
crimes.
Katie says: "I believe there should be a strong responsibility of care and safety towards passengers, particularly female customers. I believe there should be a zero tolerance policy if a driver has been previously convicted for a violent crime or sexual assault."
TFL does insist, however, that both black cab drivers and Uber drivers must renew their license every three years and this includes a new DBS check.
But drivers don’t have to hold a UK driving license to become licensed. Instead, they have to hold a license within the EEA, The European Economic Area.
Katie says: "I believe there should be a strong responsibility of care and safety towards passengers, particularly female customers. I believe there should be a zero tolerance policy if a driver has been previously convicted for a violent crime or sexual assault."
TFL does insist, however, that both black cab drivers and Uber drivers must renew their license every three years and this includes a new DBS check.
But drivers don’t have to hold a UK driving license to become licensed. Instead, they have to hold a license within the EEA, The European Economic Area.
GETTY
Splitcab are working on fingerprint technology
If there are any incidents Uber will take
action and suspend the driver while we investigate
Representative for Uber
Drivers must be responsible for their own car insurance.
And TFL say the drivers are not obligated to report any
crashes or road accidents to them.
A spokesperson for Uber tells the Express despite the recent string of incidents, the app is constantly evolving its app to ensure passenger safety.
A spokesperson for Uber tells the Express despite the recent string of incidents, the app is constantly evolving its app to ensure passenger safety.
"With Uber, passengers receive the name and photo of
their driver and the registration number and make of the car as soon as they
have booked their trip. The app also shows people exactly where their car is
and when it's arrived so there's no need to wait around outside.
"Drivers and riders can rate each other and there is
also an option to share your 'Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA)' with a friend so
they can watch you arrive safely on a live map.
"The service is also cashless and, at the end of your
trip, you will receive an email with a map of your route to ensure your driver
hasn’t taken you a longer way to get a more expensive fare.
"Transport for London license all private hire drivers
in the capital.
"But if there are any incidents Uber will also take
action and suspend the driver while we investigate.”
GETTY
Many of us will be taking cabs or taxis late this festive
party season
But new mobile app company Splitcab - which allows
passengers to share a taxi service to reduce your carbon footprint - argue that
Uber could increase their safety measures one step further.
Davide Machado, the founder and CEO of SplitCab, says:
"One huge problem with Uber is a driver giving the app to someone else and
allow them to drive under their identity.”
“With Splitcab, we’re working on biometric technology,
which would mean a driver would have to log into the app using their
fingerprints. That way a passenger knows everything about their driver and is
100 percent confident of who is driving them home."
For more information on staying safe, head to TFL's official website
---------------
AND CANADA... HERE'S UR UBER PROBLEM
QUOTE:
Right now it’s a free-for-all. Each State decides what
ride-sharing companies, such as Uber, must provide for insurance coverage. For
example, California requires all ride-share companies to provide insurance for
drivers from the moment they access the ride-share app. California passed this
law as a result of the death of a 6-year-old girl. On New Year’s Eve in
2013 a 6-year-old girl was walking with her mother and brother when she was
struck and killed by an Uber driver. The Uber driver was logged into the Uber
phone app but did not have any passengers in his car. Uber denied
responsibility for the incident, stating that because the driver did not have
any passengers at the time. The injured girl’s family argued that Uber should
be held responsible because the driver was logged into the app and was
available to provide rides for customers.
---------
Uber and Uber Driver Sued for Negligence After Collision
Kills Passenger in Miami (1/14/16) ... Hiring a Lyft: Uber Safe or Uber
Dangerous? ... Mississauga, Canada, Uber driver is facing a charge of sexual
assault after allegedly assaulting a ...
-------------
QUOTE:
Many states where Uber has set up shop have issued cease-and-desist orders until legislators
can enact regulations.
---------------
How Uber Breaks the Rules (And Why You Should Care)
Dec. 10, 2014
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftime.com%2Fmoney%2F3626486%2Fuber-insurance-background-checks%2F&media=https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/141209_em_uber.jpg?quality=75&strip=color&w=550&description=How+Uber+Breaks+the+Rules+%28And+Why+You+Should+Care%29Andrew
Harrer—Bloomberg via Getty Images
Not quite sure why ride-sharing app Uber is getting so much
flack? Political muscle of the taxi industry is one answer. But there are
legitimate safety concerns at stake.
Shawn Marquez doesn’t understand why this has to be so hard.
As acting director of Arizona’s Department of Weights and
Measures, the body responsible for regulating the state’s cab services, he is
responsible for enforcing some of the friendliest taxi rules in the nation. For
just $24 a year, anyone in Arizona can drive a cab—and for liveries and limos,
it’s free.
Just undergo some kind of background check and drug test —
the state doesn’t even ask to see the documentation — have your vehicle
inspected, and buy a commercial insurance policy that meets the state minimum of $300,000. For Uber, a company recently valued at $40 billion, that shouldn’t be
too much to ask.
But the ridesharing company decided Arizona’s laws were
still too much. “It was just a non-starter for those folks,” says Marquez. Uber
refused to deviate from its policies, which include no preliminary drug
screening and insurance coverage of just $50,000 per injury (and a max of
$100,000 per ride) if a driver has not yet started a trip when the accident
occurs. The company continues to operate illegally in Arizona,
leaving motorists and pedestrians on the hook in the event of an accident
involving one of the ridesharing company’s vehicles. (Uber did not respond to
requests for comment.)
That situation is mirrored in Portland, where taxi drivers
are also required to hold insurance of at least $500,000 per-incident. This week the
company decided to launch its service in Portland in defiance of the law, triggering
a lawsuit by the city. And Uber is having similar disputes with
municipalities around the country and around the world.
Of course, the risk inherent in these situations is not
hypothetical. On New Year’s Eve 2013, a San Francisco Uber driver struck and killed 6-year-old Sofia Liu and
injured other family members as they crossed a street. Uber’s $1 million
insurance coverage was not triggered because the driver didn’t have a fare, and
only after the accident did Uber institute
its $50,000 per-injury between-fare policy. That left Liu’s family
without compensation and $200,000 in medical bills. (San Francisco law,
meanwhile, requires traditional taxis to carry $1 million of commercial
liability insurance at all times, even between fares.)
Insurance is only part of Uber’s apparent disregard for
safety regulations. Many municipalities require taxi drivers to undergo a
fingerprint background check that is run through Department of Justice and
F.B.I. databases. Preliminary drug testing is also a common requirement. Uber
does perform background checks on its drivers, but uses a third-party service
called Hirease that does not use government databases or require fingerprints.
And drivers are screened for narcotics only after passengers lodge a complaint.
The company has fought efforts in Chicago, Arizona, California, and elsewhere
to make Uber submit to the same background check and drug-testing rules that
conventional taxis are required to follow.
Uber has responded to criticism of its screening efforts by
claiming Hirease’s background checks are superior
to those required of traditional cab companies. But many lawmakers and
officials disagree. On Tuesday, district attorneys from San Francisco and Los
Angeles filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Uber,
accusing the company of misleading customers about its safety practices. San
Francisco District Attorney George Gascon called Uber’s background checks “completely worthless” because they do not
involve fingerprinting drivers.
That sentiment is echoed by Adrin Nazarian, a California
assemblyman who sponsored a bill that would require Uber drivers to get
fingerprint background checks and submit to drug and alcohol testing. After
resistance by Uber, the bill was defeated. “No private background check can
compete with state-run background checks,” said Nazarian in an interview with the New York Times.
Back in Arizona, Marquez has his work cut out for him. He
says Uber not only ignores the Arizona law, but also neglects to tell drivers
these laws exist. “When we do stop drivers, I swear they tell us, ‘Wow I had no
idea. The company told me I was good to go,'” says Marquez.
He still wonders why Uber won’t just follow the rules.
“Some areas regulate how many cars you can have, their color, their year, how
much the price is. In Arizona we don’t do any of that,” Marquez notes. “You can
have purple cars with stars and stripes as long as you have the insurance.”
---------
Taxis plug Montreal airport
Anti-Uber protest targets air travel
THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL - Montreal taxi and limousine drivers targeted the city's
airport Wednesday as part of their protest against Uber, promising to increase
pressure tactics if the company doesn't suspend operations.
Drivers descended on Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in
the morning and refused to pick up passengers arriving in the city, leaving
travellers stranded on the taxi platform.
The protest lasted a few hours and no flights were disrupted.
A spokesman for the cabbies, Benoit Jugand, said Uber is allowed to
operate at the airport, even though the taxi industry has a $2.5-million
contract with the agency that runs the facility.
"We have to send a message: Uber is not welcome in Quebec,"
Jugand told a news conference. "We have laws that are clear and we want
them to be respectedThe people who work in the taxi industry, mothers and
fathers, are people who respect laws.‟ The airport authority later issued a
statement to say Uber is not available at the airport.
California-based Uber is an app-based business that operates in 40
Canadian communities as well as around the world. It allows people to request
rides over their phones and sets them up with drivers who use their personal
vehicles. Getting an Uber ride is typically cheaper than taking a taxi.
Cabbies are concerned that Uber drivers have an unfair advantage
because they're not subject to licensing and insurance rules.
The Quebec branch of the United Steelworkers union, which represents
many Montreal cab drivers, wants to pressure the province into forcing Uber to
stop operating during upcoming legislative hearings into the taxi industry.
The cabbies say they will stop their protests if Uber suspends its
operations during the commission's work.
On Wednesday, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre called for a ‟truce"
between the taxi industry and Uber, adding the company should ‟stop its
activities" during the legislative inquiry.
‟We don't want this to get out of hand or for the worst to
happen," he said. ‟It's a very emotional situation and I think we can all
sit down and talk in a calm way." Quebec Transport Minister Jacques Daoust
said he wants Uber to stop its ‟illegal" activities.
Daoust noted that the government has already seized 1,000 cars operated
by Uber drivers.
Uber Canada spokesman Jean-Christophe de Le Rue said it was ‟unfortunate"
Coderre was ‟seeking to protect the monopoly interests of the taxi industry
while overlooking the majority of Montrealers who have made clear their desire
for safe, reliable and affordable transportation options." The controversy
surrounding Uber has raged across the country, with Edmonton city council
recently approving a bylaw that would allow it and similar companies to operate
legally.
The bylaw takes effect March 1 and includes two licences: one for firms
called private transportation providers and the other for taxis.
City officials in Toronto are also working on a bylaw. A report is
expected in April.
------------
UBER- no car insurance4clients rucrazy??? Toronto Mayor John Tory OK
with police response to any taxi strike https://ca.news.yahoo.com/nba-star-game-toronto-mayor-120800797.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw
…
-------------
What Uber and Lyft Drivers Need to
Know About Car Insurance
Find out what the requirements are for a Uber or Lyft driver
and whether you should drive for them.
Uber and Lyft are popular car hire services. But how does automobile insurance work in a claim against an
Uber or Lyft driver? Who has the insurance -- the driver or the company? Who
would the injured person make a claim against? Read on to get the answers.
What are Uber and Lyft?
Uber and Lyft are two new car services that compete with
taxis and also with existing car services. They are similar to many taxi
services in that these companies do not own, operate, or control their cars,
and do not hire their drivers directly. The major differences between Uber and
Lyft and taxis and traditional car services are their pricing structures and
how customers arrange rides with Uber and Lyft drivers.
Unlike taxis, a prospective passenger does not hail an Uber
or Lyft driver on the street. Instead, a passenger must download the Uber or
Lyft app to their smartphone and arrange for a driver to pick them up through
the app. Pricing for an Uber or Lyft ride varies. Some rides can be cheaper
than a standard taxi, and other rides can be more expensive than a standard
taxi. Uber is known for its so-called “surge” pricing, meaning that its prices
vary with demand. At peak times, an Uber ride can be far more expensive than at
an off-peak time. Lyft is known for its quirky pricing system - passengers do
not technically pay for their ride. Instead, Lyft drivers theoretically receive
“donations” from their passengers.
How Does Car Insurance Work for Uber And Lyft Drivers?
Uber and Lyft require all of their drivers to have car
insurance. Further, Uber and Lyft do provide some additional coverage for their
drivers as supplemental insurance to the drivers’ personal insurance policies.
However, Uber and Lyft drivers must be aware that Uber and
Lyft are still very new services and their policies and procedures are
evolving. For example, Uber and Lyft have just recently changed their corporate
insurance provisions. If you are an Uber or Lyft driver, you should check with
Uber and Lyft to determine exactly what type of insurance coverage Uber and
Lyft currently provide.
Learn more about Car Insurance Coverage Options.
An Uber or Lyft Driver’s Personal Car Insurance May Not Cover
Them
Uber and Lyft drivers should be aware that their personal
insurance may not necessarily provide coverage for them while they are driving
for Uber and Lyft. This is because many private car insurance policies
specifically disclaim coverage for accidents that occurred while the driver was
driving for pay. Every standard automobile insurance policy has a list of
exclusions from coverage, and one of the exclusions in many states is driving
for hire.
If the policy does not cover or specifically excludes
driving for hire, then the driver will have no personal car insurance if he/she
gets into an accident while driving for Uber or Lyft. The driver will need to
purchase supplemental commercial driver’s insurance for an extra cost.
If you are an Uber or Lyft driver, you should check your
personal car insurance policy to see whether it covers driving for hire (i.e.,
commercial driving). But because reading and understanding insurance policies
can be tricky, you should also check with your insurance agent and have him/her
confirm whether you need extra insurance coverage to be fully protected while
driving for Uber or Lyft. Take these into consideration when deciding whether
you should, or can, drive for Uber or Lyft.
Uber and Lyft Drivers May Also Need Commercial Drivers'
Licenses
Uber and Lyft drivers are driving professionally, meaning
they drive for money, whenever they are picking up passengers. Even though they
are independent contractors, and not employed by Uber or Lyft, the drivers are
certainly driving on behalf of Uber and Lyft. This means that their state might
consider them to be commercial drivers.
While every state’s laws are different, Uber and Lyft
drivers should be aware that their state might require them to have a
commercial driver’s license. For example, some states might only require
drivers to have a commercial driver’s license if their full time occupation is
driving. So, if an Uber or Lyft driver only drives 10 hours per week, that
driver might not need a commercial driver’s license. Check with your state’s
department of motor vehicles to see what your state’s requirements are with
respect to commercial driving.
If your state requires you to have a commercial driver’s
license because you are driving for Uber or Lyft, and you do not have a
commercial driver’s license, you could be subject to prosecution if you get
into an accident. Further, your automobile insurer might try to disclaim
coverage if you get into an accident, even if you have a commercial driver’s
policy. Learn more about What to Do If Your Car Accident Insurance Claim is Denied.
------------
insharance
Why Uber should become a car insurer
by Felix Salmon | November 13, 2015 2:55
p.m.
What’s the next big thing for Uber? In its early years, a
lot of people thought that it would slowly become a global logistics company,
moving stuff around cities and the world. And indeed it’s dipping a couple of
toes into that market, with its messenger service, Uber Rush,
and its nascent food delivery operations, Uber Eats.
Both of those businesses are small by comparison to Uber’s
core taxi service, however, and are likely to remain so. There’s a different
business, on the other hand, which Uber could quite plausibly move into, and
which could potentially make the company much bigger than even its current
trajectory and valuation suggests.
No, that business isn’t banking. But it’s close: it’s insurance.
To understand why, it’s important to first understand
Uber’s biggest weakness, which can be summed up in the word “suburbs.”
One of Uber’s great strengths is that it thrives on urban
density, which is fantastic in a world where more than 50% of the planet’s
population lives in cities. Having lots of people in a relatively small area
works for both passengers and drivers: it attracts lots of drivers because
there’s always demand, and for passengers it means getting a ride is easier
than ever before.
The flipside of this equation, however, is that Uber is not
particularly good in the endless tracts of suburbia, and it’s worse in even
more far-flung exurban reaches. Availability falls as distances rise, even as fares tend to be significantly higher, since
they’re calculated on a per-mile basis.
In some cities around the world, it already makes sense to use Uber instead of owning a car:
the total annual cost is lower. But people still have a good reason to want to
own their own car, even if they don’t need one to transport pets or small
children: driving your own car is often the only option when you want to go
further afield than is feasible with Uber.
Certainly, if you regularly need to make the commute from
the suburbs into the city and back, then Uber is, at least today, a
non-starter: owning your own car is still significantly cheaper. Car-sharing
services, both formal
and informal, exist, but they’re not offered by Uber.
So how can Uber start moving into that area, which accounts for a massive
proportion of daily traffic?
The first thing it needs to do is stop thinking of drivers
as people who are being paid to drive other people from A to B. That’s
certainly the model right now: the only reason for an Uber driver to
drive where you’re going is that she’s being paid to do so.
But it doesn’t need to be that way. Ben Thompson, for
instance, has made the argument that Uber 2.0 is human self-driving cars. If today’s
Uber is devoted to utilizing cars that would otherwise simply be parked, going
nowhere, then tomorrow’s Uber can start utilizing all the passenger space in
the millions of cars which get driven every day by just a single driver:
Approximately 75% of Americans drive alone to work. Every
one of those solo commuters is a potential UberPool driver, and not just that:
because they are making the trip whether they are an UberPool driver or not,
they are, from Uber’s perspective, self-driving cars. They are drivers Uber
would not need to pay for. This, I believe, will be Uber 2.0: human-powered
self-driving cars primarily focused on commutes.
Of course, Uber will be paying these drivers something.
It just won’t be paying them nearly as much as it pays its current drivers.
(Thompson suggests 36 cents per mile, compared to the $1.44 per mile it’s
paying right now.)
But how do you sign up drivers if all you’re offering is 36
cents per mile? Commuters already earn more than most Uber drivers, and Uber is
going to want to maintain at least its current standards for cars and drivers.
If you’re a commuter with a nice car, it’s not at all obvious that you’re going
to go to the trouble of signing up to become an Uber driver just for a bit of
pocket money once in awhile. (If anything, giving people the ability to use the
carpool lane would probably be a bigger incentive than the money.)
The solution is for Uber to become a car insurer.
Uber’s relationship to the car-insurance industry is a fraught one: Uber doesn’t want to pay for
its cars to be insured, and insurers don’t want to pay for non-personal use.
But car insurance is a fundamentally profitable business. (Just ask legendary
investor Warren Buffett, who has made billions from Geico.) Uber doesn’t want
to insure its cars for free: that’s understandable. But if it could make
money from being a car insurer, then everything starts to change.
Related
On top of that, Uber has incredible amounts of data on how
people drive. There’s only one company in the U.S. currently offering true
per-mile car insurance: Metromile, which is active only in six states:
California, Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. But the
model makes a lot of sense. After all, you don’t get into accidents when you’re
not driving.
If Uber became a per-mile car insurer, and started offering
great rates on car insurance, millions of Americans who would never normally
sign up to be Uber drivers would go to the trouble of installing the app—and
allowing Uber to see where they are at any given time. There wouldn’t have to
be an obligation to pick up anybody. But Uber has already integrated its app
with Google Maps and Waze, and offers driving directions of its own, which
means that it would be very easy for all these new drivers to use the Uber app
to help them avoid traffic on the way to their destination.
And at that point, Uber will not only know where millions
of new drivers are; it will also know where they’re going, and it will be able
to ping them very easily when someone else wants to go their way.
Drivers would then have four different reasons to pick up a
ride-share. First, it’s just polite, and friendly—you’re helping people out.
(Moving into this area could definitely help Uber in terms of its reputation.)
Secondly, having a passenger can help with carpooling lanes. Thirdly, drivers
will get paid a modest sum when they’re driving a passenger. And fourthly, Uber
can make it so that you don’t need to pay for its per-mile car insurance when
you’re driving a passenger.
This new breed of Uber drivers could be choosy about who
they pick up: maybe they would restrict passengers to their Facebook friends,
for instance, or friends of their Facebook friends. Maybe they will only pick
somebody up if it doesn’t take them more than five minutes out of their way.
Maybe they will only pick somebody up if they have to sit on the freeway for an
hour. It doesn’t matter: thanks to the insurance business, they’re making money
for Uber whether or not they ever pick anybody up.
The idea is that once you’re signed up for Uber insurance,
you’ll probably pick somebody up once or twice, just to try it out, see how it
goes. If you enjoy it, you’ll do it more; if you don’t, you won’t. No harm, no
foul. But the people who do enjoy it could transform Uber’s entire
business model, bringing it out of the cities and into the ’burbs. That, plus
the insurance business, is an opportunity even a $50 billion company like Uber
can’t ignore.
Related
---------------
District Attorneys Call Uber, Lyft, And Sidecar 'A
Continuing Threat To Consumers' [Updated]
Bad news hit the desks of ride-share company execs this
week: The district attorneys of S.F. and L.A. have teamed up to investigate
Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar for a handful of practices that they assert are in
violation of state law. It's the latest in a series of hurdles the companies
have faced in gaining legal recognition for providing the service of taxis
while insisting that they are not really taxis.
As the Chronicle and others are reporting, the two DAs'
offices sent the letters on September 24th promising injunctive relief and
civil penalties if the companies did not change certain policies and practices
"quickly." At issue are several problems with safety and fairness
that have mostly been talked about before, and the DAs call these four issues
in particular "a continuing threat to consumers and the public."
·
The case of UberX driver Daveea Whitmire — the 28-year-old
driver with a criminal record (including prison time) who's been charged in an
assault on a passenger last November — plays a starring role in this current
kerfuffle. S.F. DA George Gascon says he wants all three companies to
"remove all statements from their mobile apps, websites and other
publications that imply their background checks reveal drivers’ complete
criminal history," calling such claims "patently untrue." (You
may recall that Uber contracted with a company called Hirease to
do their background checks, and that company either failed to check on Whitmire
or somehow missed his previous felonies.)
·
There's the much discussed issue of Uber,
Lyft, and Sidecar's lacking the proper licenses to pick up and drop off
passengers at airports.
·
Recently launched carpool options,
including UberPool, are illegal as we heard a few weeks ago, and the DAs are saying
these have to cease immediately. Under state law, the cost of all taxi fares
must be split evenly between passengers sharing a single ride unless the
company is a "passenger stage corporation" like SuperShuttle.
UberPool allows users to share rides for cheaper fares, however the fares are
not divvied up to add up to an equivalent single fare.
·
Also, like normal taxis, ride-share
companies have to be "regulated by the state’s Department of Food and
Agriculture’s weights and measures division, which regulates everything from
groceries to gas stations to taxis to ensure that customers are getting the
amount of food or gas or number of taxi miles they’re paying for."
There's nothing in this latest round of letters relating to
the ongoing issue of ride-share drivers' and their insurance, but that seems to
be getting worked out at the state level.
Sidecar CEO Sunil Paul shared the letter he received with
the Wall Street Journal, saying, "We're frankly
disappointed and a little baffled that there would be all of this
pushback."
In a statement, Gascon says, "We value innovation and
new modes of providing service to the public. However, we need to make sure the
safety and well-being of consumers are adequately protected in the process.”
Have fun at that meeting with the Weights and Measures
Division, kids. I hear they're a blast.
Update: In the wake of the DAs' letters, the California
Public Utilities Commission announced Friday that they would hold a full-day
hearing regarding the rules surrounding ride-sharing. [SF Business Times]
--------------
How Uber, Lyft & Relay Rides May
Not Be Insured by Your Auto Policy…
Auto Insurance. You may think of it as a paper
stuffed in your glove box that allows you to legally drive in the U.S. That
hard copy, though, is actually the contract you have made for an exchange of
money for coverage. When you purchase car insurance, you are buying security.
If damage occurs to your property, health, or others during a collision, theft or
natural cause, you have monetary stability because of your auto insurance
policy. Or, do you?
Drivers tempted by an additional income stream from Uber,
Lyft, Relay Rides, Sidecar and other startups in the rideshare economy, should
take a deeper look and consider the very real insurance consequences of
engaging in such activities.
The Rideshare Economy
The modern “rideshare economy” has challenged some of the
most established businesses in the United States. The idea that anyone can
freelance their time and their own vehicle to make money has never been easier
with smartphones and mobile apps.
The problem with ridesharing is it’s still a relatively new
concept and the car insurance industry has only begun to catch up.
If you are a millennial, many of you are likely familiar
with Uber, Lyft, Relay Rides and other major players in the rideshare economy
of 2015. For everyone else, here is a brief refresher.
Uber
& Lyft
Uber & Lyft employ thousands of drivers to taxi
everyday consumers around the globe. Becoming a driver with either service is
relatively easy. You do need a car, and it often needs to be a 2000 or 2005 and
newer, depending on the city. Tack on a driver’s license, age requirement of 21
years or older, personal insurance, a background check and you’re set to drive
either full time or only for a few hours a week.
Once approved as a driver with either service, you will
start getting requests via a mobile app to chauffer passengers in your city.
Expect to earn near $19 an hour depending on volume and times.
Relay
Rides
A newcomer compared to Uber Lyft, Relay
Rides allows anyone to list their car online and via an app for
rental. A disrupter of the traditional car rental industry, Relay Rides
converts an idle car into a passive money making machine connecting renters
with everyday car owners.
Renters are screened and can be denied or approved by
owners. Once approved, the keys are handed over and the renter drives the car
for an hour, to several days depending on what is determined up front.
Commercial Use vs. Personal Use
Insurance
Although all three providers claim adequate coverage during
“commercial use”, problems do arise. Commercial use is simply when the vehicle
is being used for commercial purposes vs. personal use – the Uber or Lyft app
is off or not engaged and your vehicle is being driven for leisure. Uber even
published a handy diagram to better explain the hand off between personal and commercial auto coverage.
For Relay Rides, commercial use is defined as the delivery
period (i.e., the period starting when the owner is actively delivering
the car to the renter and ending when the car is delivered to the renter). For
the renter, commercial use is defined as (receiving the keys to the car from
the owner and returning the keys to the owner.)
5 Important Considerations Before
Signing Up
·
Your personal insurance policy becomes void during commercial
use
It’s important to note that during a period of commercial
use, your personal insurance policy is no longer valid. Instead your coverage
is based on the requirements, rules and protection of Uber, Lyft and Relay
Rides. These companies do not employ an insurance agent to walk you through the
coverage, it is on you. In fact, they have made it so simple to sign up, that
many drivers accept the terms without a second look.
Relay Rides published a detailed 1,500 word overview on the
comprehensive, collision and liability coverages that are and aren’t included.
However, it requires a conversation with your auto insurance agent to truly understand what
coverage you are losing during commercial use and the scenarios that can leave
you without coverage.
For example, when it comes to bodily injury, property
damage, PIP, and UM/UIM, RelayRides site states:
“…RelayRides has either waived this coverage entirely or
subscribed to the lowest limit allowable by state law, and members are bound by
such election and agree to be so bound, as per the Terms of Service.”
In regards to physical damage to the car, RelayRides
states:
“…if the car is lost, stolen, or damaged so extensively
that the expected cost of repairs exceeds 75% of the actual cash value, the
renter is responsible to pay the entire actual cash value of the car, plus all
Related Costs, minus any residual salvage value.”
·
Your personal auto insurance policy could even be void all
the time
Your personal insurance policy could also be void even by
engaging in commercial activity, even if part time. It largely depends on your
state, city, carrier and policy. Many carriers even drop policyholders simply
when finding out that they are a rideshare driver or owner.
Other carriers limit coverage during periods when an app is
engaged, but a passenger has not yet been picked up. These are grey areas of
coverage that could require commercial auto insurance or a special rideshare
policy.
In Texas, Geico and USAA are the first to offer special
rideshare policies to drivers of Uber, Lyft and Relay Rides. However, contact
your auto insurance agent to find out if your policy covers rideshare activity.
·
Low Mileage Discounts Can Be Revoked
If you are currently benefiting from a lower premium due to
“low mileage” which tends to be applicable to
vehicles driven less than 10,000 – 15,000 miles per year, signing up on any
ride sharing service is sure to get it revoked.
A typical Uber driver adds on 100 – 300 miles per day to their vehicle.
That’s going to get the attention of your personal auto insurance carrier, and
could even increase cost of your personal policy, despite high mileage
happening during your employer’s time.
·
Be prepared for an increased number of small insurance claims
If a renter with Relay Rides earns a scratch on your new
Mustang during rental, without pictures of all damage beforehand, it is on you
as the owner and your auto insurance policy to cover minor damage.
For those of us in Texas, the more someone else is driving
our car, truck or SUV on the highway, the increased chance you could see a
cracked windshield upon return. Always discuss any prior vanity issues with the
vehicle upfront to avoid small claims on your policy.
·
Don’t Trust All Drivers, Renters or Owners on the App
Just because these companies have a global presence and a
slick app, doesn’t mean all users are without fault. One user of Relay Rides in
Irving, TX ranted about her experience with the company and
renters. In short:
·
Users reported electrical issues with her
car, which RelayRides required her to fix without reimbursement
·
A renter parked her car in a paid spot at
her apartment community, earning her a towing bill and trip to impound
·
She experienced the aftermath of renters
that smoked and drank in her vehicle
What Should You Do?
Check with your insurance agent first if your auto policy
covers or excludes certain aspects of ridesharing.
Under no circumstances should you lie to your agent. This
can actually give your insurer the legal right to cancel your policy. Always be
up front with your agent about any ridesharing activities you anticipate. They
can help you navigate what is and isn’t covered and if a special ridesharing
auto insurance policy is needed.
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Feb. updates
CALGARY- Live: Uber says it won't return to Calgary under bylaw ...
Live:
Council discusses changes to Calgary's livery bylaw
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Required Licences
In New Zealand, Uber works with partners who are fully licensed by the NZTA, to operate as a Private Hire service. You must have a Passenger Endorsement, which includes a police background check. Uber uses the NZTA Driver Check system to be ensure it is updated with any changes to your license statusWe understand that not every one who wants the opportunity to earn money with their car is already licensed – so this page is here to help you understand the licensing process, and set expectations of time and cost.
What documents do I actually need?
Need help to get your licences? Check out the AMS training incentive!
[ Open All | Close All ]
1. New Zealand Drivers Licence
2. P Endorsement
3. Passenger Service Licence
4. Private Hire Service Registration
5. Proof of Employment
6. Driver Check Consent Form
If you've got a question, feel free to email us at partnersauckland@uber.com or partnerswellington@uber.com
and we can help you out.NEED HELP GETTING YOUR LICENCES?
Click here to find out how you can easily get your licences with our partner AMS Group.➤ What about my car? Check out the vehicle requirements here.
➤ Or click here to sign up online now!
This website is for the use for Uber New Zealand
only and may not apply to other locations.
Become a driver! Click here!
Become a driver! Click here!
Click here for our privacy policy and
terms of service.
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