Taxi or Uber: Is One Form of Transportation Safer Over Another?
Are Uber drivers less safe than Taxis? Many people are pondering that question after recent incidents involving Uber drivers have surfaced.
In one case, an Uber driver in Kalamazoo, Michigan is accused of killing six people while on the job in mid-February.
In another case reported in November 2015, a Santa Barbara County Uber Driver was suspended after riders complained that he appeared to be driving drunk. Uber would not give NewsChannel 3 the driver’s full name.
However, a lot of Uber users say they still prefer the Uber service over Taxis any day of the week.
Ordering an Uber takes seconds with a smartphone. Hailing a cab could take longer. But it’s knowing what kind of car and who picks you up that seems to be more important to passengers.
Uber considers Kara Oh one of its best drivers in Santa Barbara County. Riders have given Oh a 4.9 star average. “You get to meet so many people throughout the day…most of them are interesting,” said Oh.
Uber holds her accountable through customer reviews, and conducts background checks before any driver is signed, and again every 6 months.
“With taxis, there’s no way unless you call the company and put in a complaint to let the company know,” added Oh. “They do a background check for any laws that we might have broken and for any trouble we might have been in.”
Uber seems to be a preferred choice, leaving taxi lines growing with cabs anxious for business.
“It’s quick and easy. It’s a cleaner car and better driving experience,” said Santa Barbara Uber user Joe Arance. Arance travels often and has Ubered more than 300 times. He understands the dilemma facing taxi drivers but certainly does not miss cab rides.
“It mainly started from some of my experiences in the East Coast like New York…Having cab drivers tell me they wouldn’t take my credit card and having them tell me they were going to pull over to an ATM,” added Arance.
In the end, no matter what form of vehicular transportation you decide to use, it’s important to remember to be prudent and cautious as you call for a ride.
