kristenrice
NOT just an ambulance driver
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
^^THIS is why I would even consider Uber in the first place...They have security measures in place and for $27, it's quite affordable.Yes, Uber has a whole suite of rider safety features, including several that have just been added in the last few weeks.
One of those features allows you to share your ride progress, with real-time tracking, with trusted friends/family. Another allows you to call 911 directly from the rider app, and that option will provide real-time actual GPS locations to emergency responders rather than the location of the nearest cell tower, which could be several miles away.
Contrary to what Monorail Man posted above, if you order an Uber, as soon as the driver accepts your ride, you will receive the driver's true first name, a description of their car, the tag number, a picture of the driver...and, you will be able to follow the progress of the vehicle as they come to pick you up and throughout the ride.
The picture is your most important protection because it ensures that you have the right driver and that the driver has passed Florida's state-mandated, extremely rigorous local, state, and federal background investigations (driving record, local criminal history, Florida criminal history, Federal (FBI) criminal history, DHS terrorist watch list, Florida sexual predator list, Federal sexual predator list, and other checks).
Uber's background checks are conducted by an independent company, and separate company maintains a continuous "watch" on all Uber drivers and notifies Uber immediately if the driver has any criminal issues subsequent to the background check.
In addition to any sharing of the ride tracking you choose to do, your ride is double-tracked by Uber. They track the ride both on your rider app on your phone, and the driver's phone. Once your ride has ended, Uber continues to track you for a few minutes to be sure everything is okay. Drivers are tracked continuously whether we are on rides or not, and for quite some time after we go offline at the end of the shift.
Lyft drivers have to meet the same state standards as Uber, and much of the info provided prior to pickup is the same. Lyft also double-tracks your ride, but does not currently provide the other safety features mentioned above. Uber also re-does backgrounds annually, and has drivers periodically submit in-app selfies for facial recognition confirmation that the right driver is behind the wheel. Lyft does neither.
With a taxi, you get a vehicle that is licensed by the city or county, a driver who has passed a very minimal background investigation, and none of the tracking/sharing functionality. You are trusting the paint job on the car -- but you'll be perfectly fine in a taxi.
Orlando is actually one of the easiest places in the US to get a hack license. I have an online "friend" who drives, dispatches, and recruits for Mears, so I'm familiar with the requirements.
For taxis, here's a link to the Orlando PD requirements writerguyfl mentioned: http://www.cityoforlando.net/police/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/02/DP-check-list-New-2015.pdf
Note that the background investigation is obtained and submitted by the taxi driver, not done independently. Also note what the deal-breakers are, lol.
But despite the low bar set by Orlando/Orange County, you would be safe in a Mears taxi. They're a very good company with a longstanding good reputation.
Fare estimates from Ride Guru: Uber fare from MCO to OKW would be about $27 for X or $40 for XL. Taxi would be about $60
@JimMIA, I have an "Uber Etiquette" question... since we are a party of 3, is it OK for me to sit in the front and have my daughters sit in the back? Or should all three of us sit in the back? We will be using Uber for some resort to resort rides and I want to make sure that we are using proper form.