How Ride-Sharing Services Have Changed Road Safety Risks

Ride-sharing services have changed road safety risks in a variety of ways. It has saved lives by preventing drunk drivers from hitting the roads. On the other hand, it can pose many risks. Ride sharing can increase the number of fatigued drivers on the road. It can also create an environment that increases the frequency of collisions between cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. Furthermore, risks increase as more inexperienced drivers sign up for the job. If someone has been involved in a ride-sharing accident, they need to speak with a car accident lawyer.

Fatigued Drivers

Many of the drivers on ride share platforms don’t have back-to-back to back rides booked to maximize their earnings. With that said, these drivers tend to work for long stretches at a time. Additionally, these ride-share drivers receive a lot of their business in the evening and late at night. Customers schedule rides after nights out at the club. Vacationing customers also schedule rides back to their hotel after late-night movies and other evening activities.

The combination of providing these late-night services with long hours can make drivers very tired. This makes them slow to respond to hazards on the road. It also poses the possibility of falling asleep at the wheel.

Increase in Various Crash Types

With a high number of drivers on the road, there can be many distractions. In downtown areas, there are lots of sights to see, bikers, and many people walking the streets. If a driver isn’t familiar with the area while distracted, they can miss a crosswalk. This raises the chance of hitting a pedestrian or someone riding their bike across the street. Distracted drivers can also find themselves going the wrong way down a one-way street in a busy, unfamiliar area. This could lead to a head-on collision with another car.

Even if the crash isn’t major, it still can cause a lot of headaches. Types of minor collisions that have increased since the introduction of ride-sharing services include rear-ending and sideswiping. These crashes commonly happen when drivers pick up customers. It also happens as the drivers pull back out onto the road. Although this can happen at any time, it frequently occurs more often after the sun has set.

Concerns of Driver Experience and Screening Levels 

Another way ride-sharing services have changed road safety risks is by raising the number of less experienced drivers on the roads. There are many young drivers who sign up for this job as a way to earn some extra cash. Most of the time, these young adults only offer ride-sharing services as a part-time job. With that said, they aren’t as familiar with the roads as full-time drivers are. Additionally, young drivers are likely to have very minimal experience as professional drivers.

When these young adults drive in cities and high-traffic areas, they can become flustered. This leads to a decrease in the ability to respond quickly to dangers. Furthermore, it compromises the safety of their passengers and other drivers.

Many ride-sharing platforms require the basics like a valid license and passing a background check. On the other hand, their standards often don’t extend past that. With that said, many of these young drivers have never taken part in courses to enhance their driving skills. Without something as simple as formal driving training, the risk of crashes can increase. 

While ride sharing can be helpful, in many cases the risks outweigh the benefits. Tired drivers trying to earn some side cash have slow reaction times. This can increase the rate of collision with other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Furthermore, many young drivers simply lack the experience and training necessary to keep those around them safe. If someone has been in an accident due to one of these ride-sharing risks, they should work with a tireless car accident lawyer.