Our Action:
On August 13, 2019, the Center for Auto Safety sent letters to the CEOs of Uber, Lyft, Juno, and Via demanding that they remove recalled vehicles from their platform. Over one hundred members of the public signed our letters, amplifying the call to keep recalled vehicles off of rideshare platforms and away from unsuspecting passengers. On August 19, 2019, the Center sent a similar letter to WHC Worldwide, America’s largest taxi company. WHC Worldwide responded with a letter explaining that, unlike rideshare companies, they do ensure that recalled vehicles are promptly repaired, showing that it can be done.
On December 23, the Center sent letters to 10 of the largest city and state taxi authorities requesting that they require the repair of open recalls. Now, the heat is on Uber, Lyft, and city and state taxi authorities to ensure rider safety.
LINK: Scary Alert: Is Your Uber Driver Giving You a Lift in a Recalled Vehicle?
LINK: How many Uber and Lyft drivers are in recalled cars?
LINK: Auto safety group concerned about recalls in rideshare vehicles
LINK: Center for Auto Safety Calls on Seven Major Cities and Maryland and Michigan to Prohibit Taxis with Unrepaired Recalls from Carrying Passengers
The Issue:
Currently, none of the large ride-sharing companies in the U.S. (including Uber and Lyft) take any steps to require their drivers to fix recalls before putting themselves—and you, the passenger—at risk. Taxis bear the same risks, as only one major jurisdiction in the United States actually requires open recall repairs. With available technology, there’s no reason that tech companies and state and local taxi authorities couldn’t require such a step before their drivers get behind the wheel and on the road. How many of the 70 million vehicles with open recalls are being used commercially to turn a profit for Uber, Lyft, and their competitors? According to Consumer Reports, quite a few:
LINK: 1 in 6 Uber and Lyft Cars Have Open Safety Recalls
LINK: Is the Cab, Uber or Lyft You’re Getting Into Unsafe?
LINK: Major Safety Issues Found With Uber, Lyft and Personal Cars in Los Angeles.
The latest trend when it comes to vehicle sharing is “Peer to Peer” rental. With companies like Turo, consumers can simply join the platform and rent their cars to one another—think of it as AirBnB for your car. The problem is, however, that unlike traditional rental car companies who are prohibited by federal law from renting you a used car (because of a law the Center for Auto Safety fought to pass), the federal statute doesn’t apply to these peer-to-peer rentals. The Center was pleased to see California agree with our advocacy, along with other groups, to pass a law requiring that these platforms keep recalled vehicles out of their service. And the same technology that powers these platforms can be used to help get these recalled vehicles fixed—and back on the road.
Learn More:
LINK: California Governor Jerry Brown Signs Landmark First-in-the-Nation
Auto Safety Legislation.
Recalled Rideshares In the News:
LINK: Lyft nightmare: Mother, baby forced to walk down interstate in rain after rideshare breakdown.