According to my son, driving me around can only be described as driving Ms. Crazy. In fact, I just returned from a 5 day trip with said son. Over those 5 days, he drove me near and far—quickly, very quickly— checking out the sites, and at most stops checking his brakes—they work well, really, really well.
My son was my “Uber” driver for the trip. His trip charge to me was free gasoline and meals—a bargain considering all the miles we traversed.
But this story isn’t about my bumming-a-ride bargain, it’s about a real Uber ride I took from the airport in San Antonio. The fare was more than just pricey, it was scary—because for this trip, I very nearly paid with my life…
According to the Uber App, my driver was 3 minutes away. I could see him approaching—the real-time erratic movement of his car avatar, a preview of what was to come. I rolled my suitcase to the curb, and recognizing the plate number, I flagged down the red Ford Edge. Ground transportation pickup was busy and I was thankful for the power liftgate my driver activated for my convenience. If only there were an automatic lift for the 60 pound suitcase I had to hurl into the back.
Settling into the right rear seat, I noticed how new the car looked—impeccable black leather seats, the unmistakable new car scent. This Chatty Kathy was not going to stay silent, I asked if his car was new and quickly regretted my curiosity. The tale that followed was my driver’s explanation of why he was driving a new car. This ride home was my vacation’s end, but the real-life erratic driving of my Uber, could very well have been the final destination of my life—and my question—the curiosity that killed this Kat.
He floored it! We zoomed out of the pickup lane faster than an airplane accelerating at take-off. I clutched the armrest and double checked that my seatbelt was fastened. At that moment, I wished I lived closer than the 15 miles due west—this was going to be a long ride.
Uber driver went on to tell me that after 4 different accidents in rental cars, all of which had paying customers riding along, he decided to purchase his own car. My mind was spinning from this information—accidents with customers riding along?! Rental cars?! First my mind spun, and now my stomach…thanks to my driver’s abrupt entrance onto loop 410.
I was speechless—namely that he admitted to being involved in so many car accidents but also speechless as I internally contemplated the rental of cars for Uber purposes. It’s pricey! He said it costs upwards of $300 per week to rent! $1,200 dollars a month would be enough to cover the car payment on a nice vehicle. Then I got to thinking about insurance. The rental company takes care of the insurance on his rented ride-share vehicle, so do accidents occurring in that vehicle get reported on his driving record? What is the potential of reckless drivers being on the road and behind the wheel of ride-share cars?
My driver shared that because the most recent accident he was involved in included a settlement, he had money to put towards his own vehicle, saving about $600 per month on rental fees. Will the savings be eaten up in insurance, since he will now need to cover that on his own per new vehicle financing and Uber requirements?
The whole ride-share platform is convenient, that goes without saying. However, all of the logistics and how little the drivers are actually making are concerning to me. Do they get benefits? Are they eligible for retirement savings? Would a ride share company with benefits like health and retirement also vet drivers more thoroughly to ensure the safety of their fare?