Uber and Lyft Drivers Work Dangerous Jobs—But They’re on Their Own
Driving a taxi cab can be a dangerous proposition (drivers are 20 times more likely to be murdered on the job than other employees, according to OSHA), which is why you often see plexiglass barriers, video cameras and GPS units in cabs. Cab drivers also receive training from their employers on how to deal with violent or abusive customers, but the federal government considers training to be an activity associated with employees, and because Uber and Lyft have staunchly defended their enterprise model where their drivers are independent contractors, not employees, it limits what they can do to ensure driver safety. The difficulties drivers can face have been highlighted recently by videos that have gone viral of drivers being verbally and physically attacked by passengers, including an intoxicated Taco Bell executive who is now suing the Uber driver for illegally recording the assault. Uber’s response so far has been to tell drivers to "stop and end the ride" and to call a 24/7 hotline for help, but they are also experimenting with “distraction toys” in backseats such as Bop-It, and mirrors that would shame passengers into preventing their behavior; the company has also hired a behavioral scientist to emphasize safety. Uber drivers have the choice, even if it lowers profit, of not driving in dangerous areas or during dangerous times, but threats can occur anytime, anywhere.
See "Uber and Lyft Drivers Work Dangerous Jobs—But They’re on Their Own", Molly McHugh, Wired, March 10, 2016