Uber Implements Stricter Driver Background Checks Following Investigation
Uber is moving to significantly tighten its driver background check policies after a New York Times investigation exposed serious gaps in its screening processes that allowed individuals with violent criminal histories to work for the rideshare platform. The company plans to permanently ban drivers with convictions for violent felonies, sexual offenses, and child or elder abuse or endangerment, regardless of how long ago the crimes occurred.
Investigation Reveals Systemic Safety Failures
According to the Times investigation published in December, while Uber's existing policy barred people convicted of murder, sexual assault, kidnapping, and terrorism from driving, the company had approved drivers with other serious convictions in 22 states. These included convictions for child abuse, assault, and stalking, provided those crimes occurred at least seven years prior to application.
Internal documents obtained by The Times revealed alarming statistics about rider safety concerns. From 2017 to 2022, Uber received reports from U.S. riders approximately every eight minutes, totaling more than 400,000 trips linked to complaints of sexual assault or misconduct. This figure dramatically exceeded the 12,522 cases disclosed in Uber's 2022 safety report for the same period.
Expanded Ban on Criminal Convictions
Under the new policy changes reported by The Times, Uber is considering stricter rules around additional serious offenses beyond the permanent bans. These include harassment, restraining-order violations, and weapons charges. Previously, individuals with these convictions were generally permitted to drive for Uber if the crime occurred seven years or more before their application.
The company has defended its overall safety record, stating that 99.9 percent of rides occur without incident. Uber previously argued that limiting felony disqualifications to the past seven years "strikes the right balance between protecting public safety and giving people with older criminal records a chance to work and rebuild their lives."
Safety Statistics and Gender Disparities
Uber maintains that serious incidents are statistically rare, with reports of sexual misconduct or assault comprising approximately 0.006 percent of the 6.3 billion U.S. trips taken between 2017 and 2022. The most severe cases accounted for about 1 in 5 million trips during this period.
However, Uber's own 2022 safety report revealed significant gender disparities in reported incidents. Women comprised 89 percent of survivors during the reporting period, highlighting particular safety concerns for female passengers. The Times documents from August also identified patterns in reported incidents, noting they were more likely to occur late at night, on weekends, and near bars.
Legal Challenges and Safety Features
Uber currently faces over 3,000 pending lawsuits, predominantly related to sexual assault and misconduct by drivers. Many of these cases are now consolidated into federal multi-district litigation. Earlier this month, a federal jury in Phoenix ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a passenger raped by a driver, determining the driver was an agent of the rideshare company—a verdict that could influence thousands of similar cases nationwide.
The company has implemented various safety tools in recent years, including GPS-based RideCheck, which monitors whether rides stay on course, and the Follow My Ride feature that allows passengers to share trip details with trusted contacts. Despite these measures, Uber acknowledges that no single feature can completely prevent unpredictable incidents.
Implementation Details Remain Unclear
Specific details regarding when and how these policy changes will be implemented remain uncertain. Uber declined The Times' request to elaborate on the precise modifications to its background check procedures, stating only that it continually updates its safety approach.
Following the December investigation, Uber responded on its website, asserting that most reported incidents were non-physical and less serious, such as unwanted flirting or staring. Hannah Nilles, Uber's Head of Safety for the Americas, wrote at the time that the "vast majority" of complaints did not involve physical contact.
The company has not released a safety report since 2022, leaving current comprehensive safety data unavailable to the public as these significant policy changes are being considered and implemented.
