A Los Angeles City Council committee is exploring ways to more closely monitor Uber and Lyft drivers at the local level. The move comes after three L.A. woman who said they were sexually assaulted by men posing as Uber drivers filed a lawsuit against Uber, claiming that the company did not do enough to warn them.
Officials with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation said that the explosive growth of ridesharing companies has been very fast and hard for the city government to keep up with. They also say that the companies are unregulated and that there has been increased concern about congestion as well as crimes committed by Uber and Lyft drivers. City officials have not been given any information about drivers with Uber and Lyft, which worries some.
The Public Utilities Commission is in charge of regulating ridesharing companies but has thus far issued no regulations on the issue. It has been estimated that there are between 100,000 and 250,000 drivers for Uber and Lyft in the Los Angeles area. The committee is considering local tracking and regulation of drivers, including through a driver registration program and expanding business license requirements.
One issue many have with Uber and Lyft and other companies is that they may not do a thorough enough job screening drivers. Drivers typically undergo only a minimal background check and do not have to pass drivers’ tests. This can lead to reckless drivers or even criminal drivers who prey on passengers. If you have been in an accident or have been harmed by a driver for Uber or Lyft, you should speak with an attorney. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles rideshare accident attorney, at 310-385-0567. I can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a consultation on your case.