Uber Driver Safety

This morning, we learned the devastating news that another Uber driver had been murdered in Pittsburgh.   This is the second murder of an Uber driver in Pittsburgh in the last year. 

Several steps are taken by Uber to ensure that passengers are safe, but steps to ensure the safety of drivers is virtually nonexistent. 

In order to be able to drive on the Uber platform,  drivers are required to undergo background checks, driving history checks, etc.  Drivers are also required to upload our photo and license plate number to the platdorm so that the passenger will know exactly who the driver is when they are picked up.

Passengers, on the other hand, undergo zero security checks, are not required to upload a photo, and are permitted to enter whatever they want as their name.  A few examples of names that have been added include GhostKilla, 32, and homemadevids, among countless others.

THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE!

We, the drivers of Uber, demand the following changes be made immediately to ensure us a higher level of security:

1.  Passengers must provide valid ID to Uber so that, in case of an incident, Uber will have the passenger's information. 

2.  Passengers must add their legal name and not a nickname to         their profile.

3.  Passengers must upload a current photo to their profile so that the driver can verify the passenger upon arrival to the pick-up point.

4.  Drvers must be shown pick-up location,  trip duration,  and drop-off location, regardless of service tier (Blue, Gold, Platinum,  Diamond).

5.  The person who orders the ride must be present qt the point of pick-up.  Ordering rides for other people shall not be permitted.   Examples of people ordering rides for others have included men ordering rides for prostitutes to be dropped off at their home or hotel, drug deals, and drug trafficking. 

Our safety is our greatest concern.  Its time our safety becomes Uber's concern.

Tom Jones    Contact the author of the petition