Kenny Habetz Injury Law | May 6, 2025 | Car Accident
For decades, hailing a cab was the default way to get across town if you weren’t driving or taking public transport. But with the advent of smartphones and other innovations, a shift in the status quo took place. Rideshare services like Uber suddenly made it so that summoning a ride was as easy as tapping a couple of buttons.
We’ve gone beyond the days of hoping for a peaceful ride home during the busiest times of day; you can now see who’s coming to pick you up, what car they’re driving, how long it’ll take, and the exact cost for the ride, all up front.
Still, it’s important to ask ourselves: does the fact that Uber is “convenient” automatically mean it’s “better” and, more importantly, “safer?”
Driving Screening and Background Checks: Who’s Behind the Wheel?
Riding safely in a traditional cab or a rideshare vehicle means trusting the driver. Cab companies and rideshare services have formal processes for vetting drivers, though they differ significantly.
Taxi Drivers
Becoming a licensed taxi driver and working for a cab company, especially in a major city, involves a fairly rigorous process.
Here are some of the key steps that may be required to become a taxi driver:
- Obtaining specific taxi licenses issued by local commissions or authorities
- Completing fingerprint-based criminal background checks conducted by law enforcement agencies
- Checking driving records
- Training courses covering geography, regulations, and customer service
- Dealing with the high costs and limited availability of taxi medallions (permits to operate)
These requirements are usually handed down from city or county regulators, aiming to ensure a baseline level of professionalism and public safety. However, the stringency of these regulations and how well they’re enforced vary from place to place.
Rideshare Drivers
Rideshare companies like Uber also conduct background checks on drivers, typically using third-party services.
These checks generally cover the following aspects:
- Criminal records databases (county, federal, and multi-state)
- Motor vehicle records
- Age and driving experience minimums
- Proof of personal auto insurance and vehicle registration
Though these background checks are the industry standard, critics argue they are not as thorough as the fingerprint-based ones sometimes required of taxi drivers. In turn, the rideshare giants could potentially overlook certain offenses or records from different jurisdictions.
Both counter by stating they use continuous monitoring, including proprietary technology, to enhance safety in a way that cabs don’t.
Regardless, the debate between taxis and Uber safety checks highlights another key difference: taxis often operate under direct government regulatory oversight for driver vetting, while rideshare apps rely more on corporate policies and discretion.
Vehicle Safety and Maintenance: Is the Vehicle Road-Worthy?
Beyond the driver’s trustworthiness, a rider’s next most significant concern will likely be the condition of the vehicle they’re getting into.
The Iconic Yellow Cab
Almost nothing stands out more in city traffic than an endless fleet of yellow cabs.
Similar to their drivers, cabs are often subject to specific regulations regarding vehicle condition and maintenance, including:
- Mandatory, regular vehicle inspections by certified mechanics or regulatory bodies
- Vehicle age or mileage limits
- Specific equipment requirements (functioning meters, cameras in some jurisdictions, and partitions)
These regulations are enforced to ensure vehicle safety and prevent unnecessary breakdowns and car accidents. Nevertheless, they can sometimes fall short. Taxis endure heavy use, so there’s plenty of wear and tear to account for. And even the best cabbies aren’t immune to taxi accidents.
The Rideshare Variety
Rideshare drivers, in contrast, use their personal vehicles for work. Companies like Uber set baseline requirements for their drivers’ vehicles (e.g., the car must be newer than a certain model year, have four doors, and pass an initial basic inspection). Still, ongoing maintenance and upkeep are almost entirely the driver’s responsibility.
Mandated periodic inspections by the rideshare company or another governing body are generally rare once drivers are done onboarding. As such, even as many drivers strive to maintain their vehicles, the lack of systematic, enforced checks introduces some potentially scary variables that lead us back to our initial question: “Is Uber safe?”
Modern Safety Features
If you’ve been with Team Taxi thus far, safety features are where Uber might finally have the advantage.
Old Reliable
Traditionally, hailing a taxi doesn’t provide much upfront information. You won’t always know the driver’s name, the exact car model (beyond it being a cab), or an easy way to share your ride progress in real time.
While some taxi companies have adopted features that mimic rideshare apps to compete, many still rely on street hails or phone dispatchers and lack integrated GPS tracking. You’ll also usually need to pay by cash or a physical credit or debit card.
Rides Tracked from Point A to Point B
Rideshares offer virtually unprecedented transparency through a bevy of safety features, such as:
- Driver Information: You can see the driver’s name, photo, rating, car make/model, and license plate number before they arrive.
- Real-Time Tracking: You can watch the car approach on a map and track your trip’s progress via GPS.
- Share Trip Status: Most apps allow you to easily share your live location and ETA with friends or family.
- Digital Record: The app keeps a record of your trip, including the route taken, driver details, and cost.
- Cashless Payment: Payments are handled automatically through the app, so you won’t have to worry about disputes.
- In-App Safety Features: Many apps include emergency buttons connecting directly to 911 or company support in the event of Uber accidents or other unplanned problems.
Uber’s level of information and trackability allows passengers and their loved ones to monitor every ride and take immediate, informed action if something goes wrong.
Taxis vs. Uber Rides: Which Is Safest?
Altogether, the answer here isn’t so black and white. The unexpected can always happen, but both cab companies and Uber provide significant forms of security to their passengers, and they each have a vested interest in helping them reach their destinations safely.
Contact the Louisiana Car Accident Law Firm Of Kenny Habetz Injury Law for Help Today
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, please call Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free case evaluation with a Louisiana car accident lawyer or contact us online. We have offices in Lafayette and Crowley, LA.
Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Lafayette
110 E Kaliste Saloom Rd Ste 101 Lafayette, LA 70508
(337) 399-9000
Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Crowley
604 S Parkerson Ave. Crowley, LA 70526
(337) 329-8883
