Uber Safety - has it arrived at our destination?

Op-Ed by Rewa Snih, Visiting Contributor

May 11th, 2021

Countless kidnappings, sexual assaults, and murders have caused my mother to repetitively ask these questions every single time I get into an Uber.  Unfortunately, she is not alone in this matter. When a seemingly harmless Uber ride can turn into a traumatic experience, it’s no surprise there is concern. Questions that previously seemed dramatic and unnecessary are now justified, and safety measures that seemed to be a result of restless overthinking are verified by the unfortunate truth.

Riding in an Uber is a monthly occurrence for around 93 million people worldwide. With an application that quickly connects you to a nearby driver, is easy to navigate, and has decent prices, this number comes as no surprise. However, there is always two sides to a story, and the latter is stained with horrendous occurrences that make you wish you had never downloaded the app in the first place. Whether you are the driver or passenger, a simple Uber can quickly change to a case of assault and harm. Currently, the number of incidents has plateaued or plummeted – depending on where you live – but this is not because we found a solution to our problem, rather due to the pandemic that has hit the brakes on everyone and everything. Unfortunately, once the pandemic ends, the floodgates will open up and horrible stories will resurface; this time further intensified by the crippling economic situation, all kinds of instability, and the consistently nourished public anger.

Worldwide Actions

Uber

As an internationally used application, Uber has its own procedures in ensuring utmost safety. This includes multi-step background checks on each and every driver – specifically focusing on driving impairments or a history of violent crimes - that signs up with Uber. These checks are not a one-time thing but are actually done annually to ensure that drivers are still up to safety standards. In some countries, Uber does these checks themselves; however, others require governmental interference. Furthermore, Uber often requires drivers to submit evidence – such as a picture – to legitimize the man behind the wheel and avoid cases of identity theft.

On the user’s end, the app provides riders the option to share either continuous live updates of their trip or the time of their arrival with a trusted contact. Additionally, riders in some US cities also have access to an emergency assistance button that calls 911 in times of danger. Unfortunately, this service is yet to be implemented in Lebanon. 

International Governments

Internationally, no laws or treaties directly related to Uber have been fabricated. However, many developed countries are taking legal action to hold Uber accountable for unsatisfactory safety measures. For example, back in 2017, the United Kingdom stripped the company of its license due to their inability to effectively report criminal offences and their lack of proper background checks. Uber was only given its license back, for a 15-month period, after making changes. There have also been similar actions done by Netherlands, India, and Germany.

Lebanese Actions

In Lebanon, it is the government that does that background checks. This is a massive responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. When underestimated, drivers with accusations of rape and other felonies are able to pass the background checks and get employed by Uber. This is because these accusations never make it on their criminal record. Furthermore, the law is rather lenient when it comes to sexual assault. Offenders can often get away with paying a mere fine of 10,000- 50,000 LL or face around six months in prison, which does little to discourage criminals.

A factor that further contributes to unsafety, is our poorly lit streets. Having to pass through a seemingly isolated street to go from one location to another provides quite the blanket for offenders to cover their crimes. On the other hand, there are security cameras that are used in some locations to monitor the roads, or to track a criminal after an incident. There are also the occasional military check points. Both factors play a role in pacifying restlessness and providing a sense of reassurance.

Reported Cases

Back in 2018, Uber’s Safety Report disclosed that there had been around 3,045 cases of sexual assault and almost 10 murders in the United States alone – keeping in mind many sexual assault cases go unreported and are thus not included. 

In Lebanon, there is the unfortunately infamous case of Rebecca Dykes who was a British diplomat that was brutally murdered in Lebanon a couple of years ago. Miss Dykes had called for an Uber after leaving a party in Gemmayze. The Uber driver, Tariq H, assaulted her, strangled her with a rope, and then left her body on the side of the street for no particular reason. Tariq H was actually previously accused, but not charged, of felonies in 2015. When it comes to sexual assault cases, the exact number is not known as there is no proper system to deal with such cases. 

Recently, new hostilities are arising related to the surprising controversy of wearing a mask. In March 2021, three passengers had entered an Uber without wearing their masks – an obvious deviation from Uber policies – which caused the driver, Khadka, to refrain from continuing the trip. Angered by his refusal, the passengers decided to cough in Khadka’s face, rip his mask off, and threaten to beat him up – all of which was caught on camera. Fortunately, in this case where the Uber driver himself was the victim, justice was still served, and the passenger was arrested.

Recommendations

Governmental/Nationwide

·       Provide all information during background checks, without omitting anything that ‘seems harmless’ – especially accusations of violence/assault.

·       Improve the lighting conditions of frequently travelled/isolated roads.

·       Implement harsher laws to punish sexual offenders.

·       Call on and help Uber implement the emergency assistance button and real time ride sharing in Lebanon.

·       Educate the people on what sexual assault is and how to report it.

Individual

There are times when we cannot depend on anyone but ourselves to ensure our safety. On an individual level, here are some basic recommendations that can help maximize your safety.

·      Enter the Uber with a charged phone and a way to communicate with anyone if need be.

·      Send a trusted friend/family member the license plate of the car you are in and the driver’s information (name, phone number, picture) to have in case of emergency.

·      Share your live location with someone via WhatsApp to have your location at all times.

·       Try not to discuss controversial topics or personal information while in the car.

Bibliography

Clayton, Abene. “Uber Passenger Seen Assaulting San Francisco Driver in Viral Video Is Arrested.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 12 Mar. 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/12/uber-san-francisco-driver-assaulted-mask-arrest

“Factbox: Uber's Legal Challenges around the World.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 25 Nov. 2019,  www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-britain-factbox-idUSKBN1XZ25F

Hook, Leslie. “Beirut Killing Reignites Concerns about Uber Safety.” Financial Times, Financial Times, 19 Dec. 2017, www.ft.com/content/be935fdc-e4df-11e7-97e2-916d4fbac0da.

“How Safe Is It for Women to Get into Taxis in Lebanon?” Al Arabiya English, Al Arabiya English, 20 May 2020, https://english.alarabiya.net/features/2018/01/10/How-safe-is-it-for-Lebanese-women-to-get-into-taxis-

“Lebanon Detains Uber Driver Suspected of Murdering British Embassy Worker - Security Official.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 18 Dec. 2017, www.reuters.com/article/uk-lebanon-britain-uber-idUKKBN1EC1GW

Safety | Uber. www.uber.com/us/en/safety/

Statt, Nick. “Uber's First Ever Safety Report Discloses 3,045 Sexual Assaults and Nine Murders in the US Last Year.” The Verge, The Verge, 6 Dec. 2019, www.theverge.com/2019/12/5/20997939/uber-safety-report-2018-sexual-assault-ride-hailing-platform-stats.

Wong, Published by Samantha, and Feb 15. “Uber's Users of Ride-Sharing Services Worldwide 2017-

2020.” Statista, 15 Feb. 2021, www.statista.com/statistics/833743/us-users-ride-sharing-services/.