Register your dashcam with Uber, yes or no?

Drivers recently received an email asking them  to register their dash cameras with Uber. Some drivers are hesitant to do so. However, there are a lot of advantages if you do.

From Uber – “Notification to your riders – By registering your dashcam, your riders will be automatically notified that they may be recorded before they enter your vehicle, helping you follow local surveillance laws, and to encourage riders to treat you and your car with respect.” This is great because many states require you to notify passengers that they may be recorded.  It is still good to have some kind signage in your car as an additional reminder that they are being watched.

From Uber – “Easy video upload to report issues – With a registered dashcam, you will see a new option to upload and share the recordings with Uber support, when you report a trip issue in the Help section of your app. To access the video upload functionality you will need to update to the newest version of the Uber app.” Many drivers had struggled with this in the past. Being able to upload a video to Uber efficiently is a great benefit. Getting that video to Uber quickly could help to prevent driver deactivations resulting from false rider claims.

From Uber – “Don’t worry, you’re in control of your video. Uber’s support team can only watch or listen to your dashcam recordings if you choose to share them. But we encourage you to share a video if you ever need to report a safety incident, as it will help Uber take the appropriate action.” This detail should be a given.

Dashcam options – If you haven’t purchased a dashcam, it really is a great way to protect yourself. Not only does it help with rider issues, it can also be the evidence you need to show you were not at fault in a car crash. Check out this previous blog post on some great dashcam options – What do you look for when buying a dash camera for rideshare?

There are so many reasons to say YES to dashcams and registering them with Uber!

A rideshare car can be a petri dish

The Pandemic has taught us all so much.  It is now more important than ever that we not just clean but also disinfect cars. This will go a long way in protecting ourselves and our riders. 

But how can you know what is the right product for each surface inside your car? In a previous blog post, we shared information on how to clean interior surfaces. Gridwise also discusses and goes over the steps of disinfecting your car on the outside. One of the most important things to remember, using disinfectants like Clorox wipes on your car’s display screen is a no-no. These kinds of wipes can permanently damage the screen surfaces over time.

We suggest buying the right products for each surface, but this can get expensive. Doing so can help maintain the value of your car. Remember, that any products you buy as a rideshare driver for car maintenance are tax-deductible. Save those receipts!

 

Prevent being scammed out of your Instant Pay account

There’s been an uptick in a scam affecting us drivers. It may not be new but it is occurring a lot more.

Someone contacts you pretending to be Uber or Lyft. They usually start off by saying something that catches you off guard. It might start with a compliment, like, “You are one of the top 100 drivers in your area and you just earned a $500.00 bonus.” Next they ask for your email, password, and details around your security question so they can verify your identity. They will then claim that the bonus will appear in your account in the next few days.

Another example is the scammer claims that your account may have had a security breach and they need to verify your identity. They then ask for your email and password attached to your Uber/Lyft account.

Both of these attempts are geared at gaining access to your account in order to drain away your hard earned money. Once they have access, they will change your bank details, your password, and lock you out. The Rideshare Guy has a great video on these scams and more.

We need to be on our toes. Uber or Lyft will almost never call you. Do not under any circumstance give out the email attached to your rideshare account or any details concerning your security question.

Think about updating your password to your account frequently. I know it can be difficult to constantly come up with new passwords. I like to use a password manager like Lastpass and it’s free for the basic version. You have just one login and one password to remember. It will remember all subsequent logins and passwords for you and autofill them is the appropriate field. I find it extremely helpful.

Stay vigilant and stay safe.

Dividers in your car?

The Coronavirus has changed so many aspects of our lives. We’re all washing our hands more, wearing a mask and staying six feet away from people. But what’s changed in our cars?

Rideshare company policies have both riders and drivers wearing a mask. Furthermore, passengers can only sit in the back seat for now. Getting vaccinated can help protect us but is there more we can do?

Many drivers are planning to or already have installed a partition between the front and back seats. Taking this extra step is a personal decision, but what goes into this process? I’ve done some research and found dividers ranging from plastic shower curtains to perfectly cut plexiglass professionally installed. Amazon has a wide range of products to choose from with price points to match. Here is the link for the one pictured above in this blog and is available from Amazon.

The challenge with Amazon is finding one that will fit your car, looks good, and protects you and your rider from the virus. Furthermore, you want to make sure that the divider won’t become a hazard should you get into an accident. Because each car’s interior design is different, it will be difficult to find one that fits your car through an online purchase. I’m not saying you shouldn’t try, but be prepared to make several purchases and returns.

Of course, Amazon is not the only retailer offering partitions. You can also try companies like Rideshare Safety Partition – they are selling dividers as well and are worth a look.

An alternative to shopping online is to work with a local installer.Try contacting local repair shops that deal with Limo operators. Limousine operators have been ramping up for the return of travelers and have been installing these dividers in their fleet of cars with great success. 

One last thing to remember is that this installation is for your business and is tax write-off so, save your receipts!

Should rideshare drivers be helping riders with their luggage?

Many rideshare drivers believe that they should not help a rider load their luggage. I believe that drivers should be helping their riders with their luggage. This post is not about starting a debate on that issue. Let’s just say you are amongst the group who does and leave it there. However, in the light of Covid-19, should this practice continue? I have held my 5.0 star rating for many years and I believe that we are not just offering someone a ride but we are also providing a service. But what is the risk of exposure?

The CDC has written an article about the Coronavirus exposure through luggage and they say the risk is low but read it for yourselves and make your own decision.

My personal thought is you should continue to help someone with their luggage but in a new way. On a few recent trips, I got out of the car and opened the trunk for the rider but asked if they wouldn’t mind loading the luggage themselves and then the same procedure when dropping them off. So far it has worked. I do suggest having a box of latex gloves in the trunk just in case a rider says they have a disability or some other reason that prevents them from lifting.

Make sure you know how to safely remove latex gloves. Checkout this previous blog post that includes this information.

Rideshare rider requests are up in Asia and South America, is North America next?

We have all heard of the financial woes of Uber. As far as ridership, Covid 19 has meant few people taking rides, especially here in the US. 

According to a recent article by investor.uber.com, Uber had a net loss of $968 billion last year. However, Uber did see its gross bookings(Uber rides) increase by 16% in Q4 over Q3. Riders are starting to come back online. This growth was mostly seen in South America and the few remaining Asian countries where Uber still exists like Singapore.

As Covid-19 vaccinations increase over the next several months one can expect the economy to improve. According to USAToday, the US economy is due for a bounce back. With an improved economy, one can expect ridership will increase here at home, let’s hope!

Next week: Uber may bring ‘Prop 22’-style gig work standards to the EU

Are you required to notify your passengers they are being recorded?

For rideshare drivers, dash-cams play an important role in safety. Having one in your car can protect you from false liability claims when in an accident. They can also protect you from a false claim made by a rider to their rideshare platform about you.

With so much at risk, it’s easy to understand why more and more drivers are installing them in their cars. But what about your legal responsibilities when it comes to the rider’s right to privacy? According to Wiley.com’s online library, 16 states require two-party notification whenever recording. Those states are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington. This means drivers need to let riders know that they are being recorded in their cars. Amazon has a lot of signage options you can use to let your riders know.

If you are currently in the market for a dash-cam, check out the July 20th blog post where we reviewed what to look for when making this purchase.

Monday: What do you look for when buying a dash camera for rideshare?

Covid-19 vaccination – Uber asks that rideshare drivers be classified as essential workers

Rideshare drivers have been considered essential workers since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic. Now that the vaccine is about to be released, it appears that there may be an end in sight. 

State governments and in discussions right now to determine who should be at the front of the line for the vaccine. Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi sent governors across the country this letter asking for them to ”ensure these individuals (rideshare drivers) can receive immunizations quickly, easily and for free” he went on to say, “I offer Uber’s assistance to you in making that a reality.”

Whether states decide to go along with his request has yet to be seen. The big question is if approved, will drivers decide to line up at the front on the line and be vaccinated and then drive?

Wednesday: How many hours do you drive as a rideshare driver?

Some interesting information on UberEats for drivers

We all know that user demand for rideshare is way down. According to QZ.com, demand in the second quarter of 2020 was down 75%. 

With such a sharp decline, many of us have turned to food delivery options like DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats, and others. In October, Business of Apps posted an article claiming UberEsts has now passed Uber Rides in revenue. 

For drivers, the move to delivery is easy to understand given the increased demand as well as limiting one’s exposure to Covid-19. But what can we expect to earn and how can I tell which one has the best boosts?

Money – Quora.com claims Uber drivers make more money as UberEats drivers only get a set amount per delivery. Whereas, Uber drivers earn more per mile. So when you are being pinged for a delivery, it is best to only accept those coming from restaurants that are closest to you.

Finding the best boosts – Signing up with a different account for Uber Rides and UberEats can be the secret to increasing your income. If you run separate accounts, you can sign-in to each one and shop each app for the best boosts for different times a day. Shopping the apps is a great way for you to raise your income and use your time more efficiently.

In the gig economy, we all have to work smarter not harder to be successful. 

Friday: Dealing with vomit, are you prepared?

Tips on winter driving

Snow is falling in many parts of the country and in others, the rainy season has begun. In either case, we need to change our driving habits for the safety of ourselves and our riders.  

 

AAA has a number of great tips including for winter driving. Some of those tips include, accelerate and decelerate slowly, increase your following distance, don’t stop going up a hill, and more

AAA also offers tips for driving in wet weather. Some of those tips include, slow down, make room, avoid cruise control, and more.

No matter where you live, it’s important to check your local weather forecast so you know what kind of road conditions you will be dealing with each day.

Monday: Are fewer drivers using the turning signal?