I Love The Notion That A Piece Of Paper From The Government Will Protect You
If Uber is unsafe, so are taxicabs, writes Steven Greenhut at UT San Diego, about LA City Councilman Paul Koretz's desire to regulate ride-sharing services:
SACRAMENTO -- A search of "taxi" and "car crashes" will reveal a long list of troubling news stories. In San Francisco last year, an Ohio couple died after a cab with bad brakes slammed into a concrete pillar. A year earlier there, a taxi driver who caused a deadly crash was identified as a man convicted in a notorious murder case, yet he passed the background checks.Normally, I would say this, sadly, is part of life. Driving is an inherently dangerous activity and despite a litany of state and local taxicab, driving, insurance and other regulations, there's no way to make the world perfectly safe. But now my conclusion is different: The only solution to the taxi-safety problem is to ban all taxicabs from the roadways.
Where did I come to such an outrageous (and admittedly tongue-in-cheek) idea? From the taxicab industry itself. Based on a tragic accident in San Francisco involving a driver with the ride-sharing service, Uber, the taxi industry says such firms are too dangerous and should be shut down or at least faced with the same type of regulations faced by cab companies.
...That Uber-involved accident in San Francisco highlighted a gray area. The accident took place after the driver had the app on but before he had passengers. Is the driver (and that driver's insurance policy) or the TNC liable for any crash in that situation? That's a fair question, although the insurance carriers could answer it by spelling out their coverage more clearly in policies they offer.
Anyone who's ever had a restraining order already knows this...
Flynne at July 11, 2014 4:49 AM
I've never understood how women (painting with a broad brush here) simply refuse to believe that they need to be proactive in protecting themselves and their children. (I do know exceptions.)
Taking out a restraining order should be a joke. As in "I'm from the government and I'm here to help.".
In a real world a restraining order send a message to the abusive partner - "I can now legally shoot your ass if you come near me again. And near me means I can come and get you."
Is this genetic? cultural? Is it because they did not hunt for their food way back when?
Bob in Texas at July 11, 2014 7:10 AM
I don't know about every state, but in mine if you are paid for driving (truck, bus, cab, most heavy construction equipment, etc.) tou need a "chauffer" license. Do Uber and others require this?
taxi/hackney licenses are limited in number, usually the number was set several decades ago. And I can understand current license holders holding that number. if I paid a hundred grand for something because it was scarce and supply was not increasing and then a new bunch of whatever were offered at two grand or less, I would be hopping mad.
But as a customer... A few months ago, I needed a ride to the local hospital for about 4PM. Started calling cab companies about 0:10AM. After four companies in my town all said their cabs were busy going from the downtown of a nearby city and the airport and nothing would be available until after 10PM - or ever - I cancelled the appointment and made one with a hospital I could reach by bus. Over an hour each way, not less than ten minutes for which I was ready to pay a premium.
John A at July 11, 2014 8:35 AM
Oops, 9:10 AM, not midnight.
John A at July 11, 2014 8:40 AM
Perhaps taxi cab companies should be shut down. I dunno. I've heard getting settlements out of them if you are in an accident can be torturous. And I've certainly been endangered on the road by idiot cab drivers, and even been in an accident while a passenger of a cab.
Regardless, uber drivers do not seem to have any background checks, their insurance almost certainly does not cover uber activities, and the only thing I know about an uber driver is they are willing to brave storms most people would not go out in for uber surge pricing bucks and at other times will allow themselves to be priced lower than taxis.
That's a sign of desperation, not a sign you have anyone who should be driving behind a wheel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn0WdJx-Wkw
I think this makes uber less safe than what uber was known as in the Bay Area before apps: casual carpool. In casual carpool, drivers would pick up passengers at known locations in order to provide rides, reduce traffic and perhaps more importantly, enable a driver to take the HOV lanes.
Apart from saving time by using the HOV lanes and not having to wait for BART, the optional dollar contribution is on the order of one dollar: http://sfcasualcarpool.com/
I think consumers, drivers, and all taxpayers have a good reason to consider whether uber is a good idea and should be unregulated.
That is not to defend taxi medallions or anything about the taxi industry.
I will say that where I live, if you need a taxi (and even a friend), call up Paul's Taxi service. Paul's service (not usually Paul) has given me rides and even ... picked up car parts at an auto parts store and even installed them for me. Ya rly. His idea.
jerry at July 11, 2014 8:43 AM
In CT, you need a public service license to drive a bus, cab or limo. You need a CDL (certified driver's license) for a truck over 2 axles. You can get a CDL through the DMV, but most companies want you to go to a certified school for it. Still in all, it won't prevent an accident. I think it's a good idea, though, if you're being paid to give people rides, that you at least know what the hell you're doing.
Flynne at July 11, 2014 8:57 AM
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