Many Americans use the popular rideshare program known as Uber. Uber is available nationwide and comes in handy for getting people to where they need to go in a timely manner.
On the driver’s side, Uber also works out well for people who want to make some extra money and supplement their income. With prices rising across the board, more people are looking to bring in additional income and cover all their bases.
However, Uber is certainly not without certain issues or complications. For example, from 2019 to 2020, the rideshare service ended up with 3,824 complaints of sexual assault during rides, according to The Hill.
A Closer Look at the Data
According to a safety report revealed by Uber, the number of sexual assault complaints it received from 2019 to 2020 is actually 38% lower than reports of the same nature from two years prior.
The rideshare company likewise confirmed that it’s put in place systems to help facilitate safety for anyone using its platform. These systems include added security features, strong processes for screening, and overall support for riders and drivers alike.
Another interesting twist comes in the form of vehicular deaths. Unlike sexual assault reports from 2019 to 2020, there was actually a 7% increase in reports from the year past.
Thank you @UBER for this second safety report, and your continued commitment, and leadership to transparency around safety. https://t.co/r8lBlZurxZ
— Indira Henard (@IndyDCRCC) June 30, 2022
This trend is believed to be a result of speeding, intoxication, and fewer people putting on their seatbelts.
Another interesting factor that’s influenced people’s driving is the time they spent at home during lockdowns before finally getting back on the road again.
To this day, Uber has features on its app that permit both riders and drivers to report car crashes. Per the data, these crashes are rare, shaking out to be about 0.62 deaths per 100 miles.
The Future of Rideshare
Uber appears very much here to stay. However, with more focus on the environment, some Uber rides are taking place in electric vehicles, such as Teslas.
The rideshare service maintains that it has a commitment to keeping the environment as clean as possible with electric vehicles.
On top of this, in the years to come, some folks may even see Ubers that are self-driving. To this extent, however, there’s been some controversy about the impacts this would have on human drivers, who rely upon Uber in order to make money.
Fascinating to those of us in travel and knowing @dkhos’s background that travel itinerary management is one of the major ways @Uber plans to become a superapp. New launch today, Uber Travel, Tripit of 2022 with Uber booking attached. pic.twitter.com/L8JAkjW3LE
— Rafat Ali, Media Operator & Dad (@rafat) May 16, 2022
Nevertheless, despite the company’s work towards autonomous vehicles, the overwhelming majority of rides today are with human drivers, whether they’re in electric vehicles or gas-powered cars.
What do you make of the latest news about Uber? Do you believe the rideshare company is going to continue to do well and succeed in the marketplace? Let us know in the comments area if you use Uber and what you see as the future of the company.
