An in-depth investigation by the New York Times has uncovered significant gaps in Uber’s driver background checks, raising serious safety concerns about the ride-hailing service. While Uber strictly disqualifies applicants convicted of murder, sexual assault, kidnapping, and terrorism, the report reveals that in 22 states, individuals with convictions for offenses like child abuse, assault, and stalking may still be approved as drivers if their convictions are over seven years old.
This patchwork system, which largely depends on a driver’s residence during the past seven years, can lead to missed violent felony convictions from other jurisdictions. The findings echo a previous audit conducted by Massachusetts in 2017, which resulted in the revocation of over 8,000 drivers—approximately 11% of those approved at the time—due to safety violations.
In stark contrast, Lyft maintains a stricter policy, prohibiting drivers with any history of violent felony convictions, regardless of how much time has passed since the offense.
Further scrutinizing Uber’s safety protocols, the Times revealed that in a 2015 internal document, company executives preferred to shift focus from comprehensive background checks to less costly safety initiatives. An email from 2018 described Uber’s existing background check policy as merely a "bare minimum."
The investigation also highlighted alarming cases where Uber drivers with past violent offenses were later implicated in serious crimes against passengers, including sexual assault. Between 2017 and 2022, Uber’s internal data indicated that reports of sexual assault or misconduct occurred nearly every eight minutes, although the company asserted that 75% of these incidents were categorized as "less serious"—mainly involving inappropriate comments.
Key Findings:
- Approval of Violent Felons: In 22 states, Uber permits drivers with serious offenses if the convictions are over seven years old.
- Massachusetts Audit: Over 8,000 drivers were banned due to safety breaches.
- Lyft’s Stance: Lyft retains a strict policy against violent felony drivers.
- Internal Safety Discussions: Uber executives have suggested prioritizing lower-cost safety measures over thorough background checks.
- Assault Reports: Sexual misconduct occurred in Uber’s U.S. operations almost every eight minutes from 2017 to 2022.
The revelation calls into question the effectiveness of Uber’s safety measures, underscoring the importance of stricter regulations to ensure passenger safety amid increasing concerns over driver vetting practices.
