Getting home safely when you're on your own is a serious concern for many Australians, especially women.
Getting a cab straight to your door when you're out late can seem like a better option than walking, taking public transport, or even hitching a ride. But the expense – an average $24 per cab ride in 2014 – has made the controversial low-cost UberX service, where anybody is able to sign up to be a driver, an attractive alternative.
How is UberX different to a cab?
While Uber does offer cab services with registered taxi drivers – like UberTaxi and the deluxe UberBlack – its cheaper UberX "ride-sharing" service can be staffed by anybody over the age of 21. Drivers use their personal cars and are not registered under any state or federal body.
Australian taxi drivers and their representative bodies have been vocal in condemning UberX, which is considered illegal by state governments. There are approximately 9,000 UberX drivers in Australia, who can be hit with fines and infringement notices.
However, Uber has defended their safety practices and called for the UberX service to be made legal.
Driver checks are done for both licensed taxi drivers and UberX drivers. However, requirements for taxi drivers are more stringent.
In order to be a registered taxi driver in NSW, drivers must fulfill the following criteria:
- At least 20-years-old
- Have a full drivers licence
- Be able to speak a sufficient level of English
- Undergo a medical assessment
- Undergo a criminal record check
- Be of "good repute"
- Complete a taxi-cab driver training course
To drive an UberX car in Australia requires fewer checks:
- At least 21-years-old
- Have a full drivers licence
- Undergo a criminal record and driving history check
- Have compulsory third party insurance
Taxi drivers are under more ongoing scrutiny than UberX drivers.
Blair Davies, CEO of the Australian Taxi Industry Assocation (ATIA), told BuzzFeed News that criminal checks for taxi drivers are ongoing, as opposed to just one check for Uber.
If a current taxi driver is charged with an offence it will be flagged and the driver suspended, Davies said.
"Respective state government departments monitor taxi drivers being charged with any disqualifying events," he said.
"With Uber, they would never know – it's a one-off check," he said.
Australian taxi drivers are also required to have no alcohol or drugs in their system while driving, as opposed to the acceptable alcohol level of .05 for regular drivers.
Davies said that while this is also a company policy for Uber, drivers who do have alcohol in their system would not be picked up by police.
"In the case of taxi drivers, if they get pulled over by police, if they blow anything they are instantly fined," he said.
"With Uber, the police wouldn't know they are an UberX driver."
Which services have security cameras?
All taxis in Australia must have security cameras fitted, meaning a recording of somebody's ride is always available. As UberX drivers are using their personal cars, such cameras are generally not available – stripping one layer of accountability from their drivers.
Is there any way of knowing who your UberX driver is?
There's no onus on Uber drivers to display a photo license, as all registered taxi drivers are required to do in Australia.
However, the Uber app strips any anonymity from the transaction, with the driver's name, license plate number, photo and rating (based on reviews from other Uber users) visible when the request is confirmed.
Can you keep track of the car?
All taxis are mandatorily fitted with a GPS system, which drivers are not able to deactivate. This ensures taxis are never "off the grid" with their parent company, and there is a record of where they have driven and pulled over.
In UberX cars, users can use the app to "share" their location with friends or family, who can then follow their journey home on their phone.
Who is liable if misconduct occurs in an UberX?
Uber's policy is that the company is not liable for anything that occurs while you are using their services. A legal disclaimer on the Uber website reads "Uber shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages, including lost profits, lost data, personal injury or property damage related to, in connection with, or otherwise resulting from any use of the services."
This means that if you are assaulted or discriminated against in an UberX, your only option in terms of following up that behaviour would be to pursue legal action against the individual driver, which could prove costly and difficult.
Uber's reasoning for their liability refusal is that they are not a transportation company, but a technology company that matches drivers and riders. The service isn't provided by Uber, but by the drivers – Uber just allows the two parties to get in touch.
Liability is more complicated when it comes to taxis, with Davies saying taxis are liable for certain incidents that might occur in a cab, and not for others. However, he stressed that the existing security measures in taxis – cameras and GPS records – combined with the cab companies taking more responsibility for their drivers actions usually result in a faster and easier process for victims of assault, discrimination or other misconduct.
Taxis and UberX both aim to eliminate occurences of misconduct via their driver screening processes, but, unfortunately, in both services, misconduct does occur. However, Uber's complete shirking of liability could see users struggling to get compensation and justice.
What about the car itself?
UberX cars must be a 2005 model or newer, and have four doors. However, beyond yearly rego checks – which are not required in all Australian states and territories – that is the extent of roadworthiness checks.
Taxis undergo regular safety checks beyond yearly registration. ATIA CEO Blair Davies told BuzzFeed News that the average age of a taxi cab is six years, and that they are inspected regularly.
"Every 4-6 months, depending on the jurisdiction, taxis have to undergo a machinery inspection conducted by someone independent," he said.
Alisha Aitken-Radburn, a student at Sydney University, said she uses UberX to save money.
"It's just so incredibly cheap. As a student, that's a really big consideration," she told BuzzFeed News.
To get from Sydney University to her home in Lane Cove, Aitken-Radburn can change a $50 fare to a $25 one by jumping in an UberX instead. The fare estimate function is also a big tick for her.
"It's a huge difference, being able to know vaguely what it's going to cost me," she said.
However, Aitken-Radburn – who often travels alone at night – said she is a "little bit apprehensive" about how safe the UberX system is, likening it to hitch-hiking.
"I popped into an UberX when I was leaving work the other day and the guy was absolutely lovely. But I noticed that he locked the doors, and it made that click sound, and when the door went 'click' my mind clicked – it was very disconcerting."
However, the ability to view a photo and the license plate of the driver on the app helps put her mind at ease.
"There's always going to be safety issues… UberX presents its own unique challenges to women staying safe, but at the end of the day, that's society."
"It's another thing that women have to be actively aware of. It's sad that we even have to consider this, because surely it's not a consideration for most men."
Uber did not reply to a request for comment.