Safety: Ridesharing Drivers vs. Average Drivers

Ridesharing drivers are safer drivers than the average American behind the wheel, according to research by Boston-based Aite Group.

The researchers, using driving analytics data, conclude that average consumers are safer catching an Uber or a Lyft or entrusting their kids to a HopSkipDrive than they are getting behind the wheel themselves.

According to Aite Group, publicly available data on how ridesharing drivers truly fare versus average American drivers is limited. Even the U.S. insurance industry, which has begun insuring ridesharing drivers, lacks insights into ridesharing drivers’ risk profile, the firm says.

Much of the media coverage of ridesharing safety has been about Uber’s criminal checks on its drivers, not about their driving records. Uber has resisted employing fingerprinting background checks that are common among taxicab firms. In February, Uber offered to pay $28.5 million to settle claims that a $1 “safe rides fee” was misleading because its background checks aren’t as thorough as the company advertised. In March, 2015, Uber said it was forming teams to address safety issues across the world, amid increasing concerns about the security of its passengers and drivers.

Ridesharing firms say they do check the motor vehicle driving records of their drivers. Uber says its drivers must meet certain driving record criteria including a minimum of one year of licensed driving, no more than three incidents in the past three years, no drunk or reckless driving citations, and no speeding violations for going 20 mph or greater over the speed limit. Uber also conducts a criminal background check.

Aite Group’s report, “Driving Analytics: Ridesharing Drivers Are Safer Than Average American Drivers,” looked at driving records and, in terms of speeding, found that 30 percent of trips taken by ridesharing drivers involve speeding, compared to 41 percent for average drivers. Even when it comes to cell phone usage, which ridesharing drivers depend on for their work, they tend to be safer phone users while driving than average drivers. Ridesharing drivers are recorded fumbling with their phone for 23 seconds during a typical 15-minute trip, compared to 35 seconds for average drivers, according to the report.

“Insurers with a negative bias toward ridesharing may actually reconsider and favor policyholders that engage in ridesharing to the extent that participating in such activity may contribute to making them better drivers,” says Aite Group partner and insurance research director Gwenn Bezard.”

Topics Personal Auto