Uber comes to Australia

[clazman]

Do you feel safer in a uber car than a taxi?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

How old is your eldest daughter PF? How would you feel about her climbing into one of those Uber X vehicles?

 

[penegal]

Can we guarantee uber drivers have 100% insurances?

Or indeed the vehicles are even registered.

Uber have said that they self-insure (for UberX) which would be equivalent to the insurance taxis have ... however this is essentially unregulated, and fairly "grey".

UberBlack drivers are registered hire care drivers under each state's hire care licensing schemes (e.g. VHA). They are fully insured to the same level as if you booked them through an agency or perhaps even an airline (EK, EY, QF, VA, etc).

 

[yohy?!]

The whole question of legality is interesting I think. Uber the app is merely an app linking drivers and riders together making shutting them down very difficult as they do not actually employ any drivers. Targeting the drivers is also problematic without resorting to entrapment to prove they are actually driving commercially as opposed to privately.

I think changes to regulation are inevitable, they are huge now with a 40billion usd valuation and heavy backing by Google.

 

[yohy?!]

Or indeed the vehicles are even registered.

I use them several times a week and have done for about six months. I spotted one with a rego sticker that had been removed with no replacement. Reported it to uber who advised they would take action. I hear they don't hesitate to kick out drivers who break the rules or cause complaints.

A lot of the time I get hire cars on uberx also which is a nice bonus.

 

[DeKa]

Some advice from another thread...

For the Mods, this thread is confusing because people are talking about UberTaxi (taxi booking service), UberBlack (Hire car bookings) and UberX (Ride Sharing) interchangeably as just Uber.

Could we have a separate thread for UberX since this seems to be the controversial part of Uber. I could start one but much of the prior conversation is here in this thead.

When you talk about Uber, please state whether you're talking about UberX, UberTaxi or UberBlack as its getting confusing.

 

[Mac502]

Brisbane only has uberx.

And there is also no need for rego stickers here anymore.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Brisbane only has uberx.

And there is also no need for rego stickers here anymore.

Nor VIC nor NSW nor WA for light vehicles - not sure TAS and SA

 

[Princess Fiona]

How old is your eldest daughter PF? How would you feel about her climbing into one of those Uber X vehicles?

I haven't really looked at Uber X at all only the Black cars as they are all proper drivers.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Do you feel safer in a uber car than a taxi?

Yes, again I am referring to UberBlack, that's the only service I would use.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yep Uber Black is legal - Uber X isn't.

 

[anat0l]

I bet if a government upped the penalties for UberX drivers to either mandatory impoundment of their vehicle and/or imprisonment, action on both sides would be much faster and forthcoming.

 

[burmans]

Yep Uber Black is legal - Uber X isn't.

I know that various state bodies take the view this is illegal (with no doubt some serious prodding from the taxi companies that pay them rent) but have any of these cases actually ended up in court and been ruled on?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I know that various state bodies take the view this is illegal (with no doubt some serious prodding from the taxi companies that pay them rent) but have any of these cases actually ended up in court and been ruled on?

I don't know specific numbers but YES there have been prosecutions - quick google threw this up - Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian and this http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vi...vices-commission/story-fni0fit3-1226910856247

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Do you feel safer in a uber car than a taxi?

Yes i do.

Do you think taxi drivers are good drivers?

 

[N860CR]

I don't know specific numbers but YES there have been prosecutions - quick google threw this up - Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian and this http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vi...vices-commission/story-fni0fit3-1226910856247

Well there have been fined issued... A fine is only an alleged offense though. I don't think it's been tested properly. It is, however, clearly illegal. The major turning point will be when a major accident occurs.

 

[OzEire]

I don't think it's been tested properly. It is, however, clearly illegal.

In some jurisdictions, in some countries.

The major turning point will be when a major accident occurs.

THIS is 100% the point. No one would want to be the first in any jurisdiction to 'test' the insurances, etc. The ruling on UberX will arise from the first big incident.

Your calculation should be how likely you think an UberX car, that you are in, will crash vs. how much better/cheaper it is than other options (inc. PH cars, UberBlack and taxis).

Compare this with the counterpoint that you might be unlucky enough to be hit by another car while your friend/mum/neighbor/guy from work you barely know, is driving you to the airport;, its not THAT different.

 

[N860CR]

I think in Australia we can safely say it's illegal.

I do feel very sorry for the first UberX driver to be in an accident. Uber has been unclear with all of them about legalities and insurances. The majority of them who I've travelled with lately seem to be recent arrivals to the country just trying to get a head start and I'd hate to see them ruin their lives for googles greediness.

 

[whatmeworry]

Alleged rape by Uber drive in India.
Uber Faces Legal Action In India Following Arrest Of Rape Suspect | TechCrunch

UBER DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE SUITABILITY, SAFETY OR ABILITY OF THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS. IT IS SOLELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DETERMINE IF A THIRD PARTY PROVIDER WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS. UBER WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN DISPUTES BETWEEN YOU AND A THIRD PARTY PROVIDER. BY USING THE SERVICES, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU MAY BE EXPOSED TO SITUATIONS INVOLVING THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY UNSAFE, OFFENSIVE, HARMFUL TO MINORS, OR OTHERWISE OBJECTIONABLE, AND THAT USE OF THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS ARRANGED OR SCHEDULED USING THE SERVICES IS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND JUDGMENT. UBER SHALL NOT HAVE ANY LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO YOUR TRANSACTIONS OR RELATIONSHIP WITH THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS.

 

[lovestotravel]

It's gone downhill a lot since it started. They seem to now be very dodgy older cars driven around by taxi driver dropouts. I've had one car recently that stank of fuel and the driver who clearly had no idea what he was doing. It seemed like a good idea to start with... But it's turned into a disappointment.

I have noticed this as well for both UberX and Uber Black

Lots of "new" drivers, driving for Uber Black whom have little knowledge of the roads, no water, no mints and no customer service skills

Straight from a taxi to Uber....

As for UberX I have noticed lots of older Commodores getting driven around by Ex Taxi drivers as well