safety – Page 5 – Uber Scandals

June 15, 2017June 20, 2017

Failed to take action on drunk driving complaints

The California Public Utility Commission found that Uber violated CPUC “zero-tolerance” rules in its handling of 151 complaints, failing to suspend and/or investigate the drivers. In only 22 of 154 complaints did Uber suspend the driver within one hour of a passenger complaint. Furthermore, some of the supposedly-suspended driers were nonetheless able to log in to Uber, respond to ride requests, and provide additional rides.

CPUC further found that, contrary to CPUC rules, Uber failed to implement a “zero tolerance” policy that immediately suspended a driver for a DUI allegation. Instead, Uber’s process had multiple steps and multiple opportunities for error by Uber staff. In contrast, CPUC rules required Uber to suspend the driver before verifying the validity of the complaint.

CPUC also found limited evidence that Uber followed up with passengers to investigate allegations, including Uber failing to follow up in several hours or even a full day after a passenger’s complaint.

In light of these practices, CPUC recommended a penalty of $1.1 million.

June 15, 2017November 7, 2017

Self-driving cars missed at least six red lights in San Francisco

Internal documents revealed that Uber vehicles had missed at least six red lights — problems caused by the cars’ mapping programs, not human error (as Uber had initially claimed).

The Verge covered the problem, including a dashcam video showing an Uber vehicle driving through a red light.

June 14, 2017November 9, 2024

Obtained medical records of a customer

After an unnamed customer reported being raped by an Uber driver in India in December 2014, Uber executive Eric Alexander obtained her medical records and showed them to CEO Travis Kalanick and SVP Emil Michael. As of June 2017, Alexander had left Uber.

In a June 2017 lawsuit, the customer filed a lawsuit against Uber as well as Alexander, Kalanick, and Michael for intrusion into private affairs, public disclosure of private facts, and defamation. In addition to noting the impropriety of Uber managers obtaining and examining her medical records without her consent, she flagged the inconsistency between Uber’s public claims (“We will do everything … to help bring this perpetrator to justice and to support the victim”) and its actual action.

June 14, 2017June 20, 2017

Drivers failed more rigorous government background checks

When Massachusetts ran its own background checks of Uber drivers, it found more than 8,000 violations ranging from license suspensions to violent crimes and sexual offenses.

June 14, 2017July 18, 2017

Drivers with criminal records

California district attorneys accused Uber of weak background checks that led to the hiring of 25 drivers with criminal records. Uber settled for at least $10 million.

June 14, 2017July 16, 2017

Allegations of sexual assault

Uber drivers were accused of sexually assaulting riders in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto, and more.

June 14, 2017August 17, 2017

Raised prices during public emergencies

After outcry about exorbitant fares, Uber agreed to cap surge pricing during emergencies. Yet the company faced criticism a few months later for temporarily raising fares during the 2014 Sydney hostage crisis, then again for surges during London attacks.

June 14, 2017November 23, 2017

Untrue or misleading representations about safety measures

In litigation, the City of San Francisco and City of Los Angeles alleged that Uber falsely claimed to offer the “safest ride on the road” with the “strictest safety standards possible,” which, the cities argued, was “likely to mislead consumers into believing Uber does everything it can to ensure their safety” when in fact better methods were available.

The cities further alleged that Uber’s claim to be “doing everything we can to make Uber the safest experience on the road” was inconsistent with the company’s lobbying against certain safety requirements then being discussed in the California legislature.

The People Of The State Of California v. Uber Technologies Inc A Delaware Corporation Et Al – litigation docket