When you get into a taxi, do you think about Uber background checks and who will be driving you or do you simply state your destination and jump in? Well, the company behind mobile taxi app Uber is being sued because it ‘allows convicted murderers, rapists and burglars to be drivers due to background check failures’. We bet you’ll think twice next time, won’t you?
Find out more about the Uber revelations and how you can stay safe, here:
First Things First… What is Uber?
Uber is an app that you download onto your phone, which allows you to book a taxi according to available cars near your GPS location. There’s no need to hail a cab anymore, you simply tap your phone screen and payment is automatically made using your credit card details when you arrive at your destination.
Uber operates in 58 countries around the world and currently has 15,000 drivers in London, plus it has secured licences to operate in another 16 cities across the UK. Uber hopes to have 42,000 drivers in London by the end of March 2016, however with the most recent developments this future is uncertain.
Uber’s Background Screening Fail
Court records released this week show that Uber are being accused of allowing convicted murderers and sex offenders to drive their cabs due to a lack of proper background screening checks. The revelations came to light during a civil lawsuit against the taxi providing service in California, USA.
Prosecutors claim ‘systematic failures in Uber’s background check process’ have been found and the District Attorney of San Francisco, where the case is being held, has said:
“I support technological innovation. Innovation, however, does not give companies a license to mislead consumers about issues affecting their safety.”
Uber have since made a statement saying that the way they check UK drivers is different. A spokesperson has said:
“Uber’s focus is ensuring the safety of riders before, during and after a trip. All Uber partner-drivers must undergo rigorous screening, including background and driving history checks, before they can join the Uber platform. In the UK all partner-drivers are fully licensed by the local authority. As such they all undergo the same vetting process all taxi and cab drivers go through, this includes an enhanced DBS check.”
Stay Safe on the Road
Your local authority is in charge of ensuring all taxi drivers are licensed, to ensure they are safe, medically and conviction-wise, to transport the general public. The council will also check the vehicle is fit for purpose and comfortable to travel in.
However, there are some unregistered cabs that operate during busy hours at cut prices, so make sure to check for the yellow plate on the back of the vehicle. This will show the car is licensed and is traceable.
Interested in learning more about the checks run on taxi drivers? Well, here’s a great resource from Cardiff Council which details the process drivers must take to get their licence. And if you’re a taxi driver who requires a DBS check, we can help! Click here.
If you would like to contact CBS directly, please phone us on 01443 7999900 or email us at: info@cbscreening.co.uk