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I don't know what I'm missing, but why not let customers decide if they want to use a lower standards for vetting service, and let drivers decide if they want w

I don't know what I'm missing, but why not let customers decide if they want to use a lower standards for vetting service, and let drivers decide if they want worse working conditions. Note that I don't completely agree with your statements, but assuming they're true, my question still stands.

PaulRobinson 7y ago
Because the UK - like most of Europe - believes the free market is a poor mechanism to protect vulnerable people from rape and physical assault. I'm not being flippant here: customers have routinely shown that for lower prices they'll suffer almost anything, to the point that safer alternatives become uncompetitive. TfL isn't asking for much here: just that drivers are vetted properly and consistently. Every other firm in London is asked to do it, and complies. If Uber can put them all out of business by saving money on not doing that, the market will make the industry less safe for passengers. We have voted in people to ensure that doesn't happen, because we want protection from the free market, simple as.
- travisoneill1 7y ago
  Is there actually any data that shows traditional taxis are safer? I bet there isn't because if there was it would have been used by the taxi companies by now.
  - robocat 7y ago
    "A few years ago a genuinely licensed black cab driver was convicted of rape and sexual assault, and as a result the community was shaken: it was the first time in over 300 years where a licensed operator had been convicted of such a crime" - PaulRobinson - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21630846 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21630846 Do we have any numbers on sexual assaults by Uber drivers in London?
    - KaiserPro 7y ago
      https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/security-on-the-network/tph-related-sexual-offences#on-this-page-1 https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/security-on...
- malandrew 7y ago
  Vetted properly and consistently like John Worboys was? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Worboys https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Worboys
lmm 7y ago
Because by the time you find out whether a particular company's vetting was good enough, it's far too late. It's a lemon market, and regulation is the standard, economist-approved solution to those.

PaulRobinson 7y ago

Because the UK - like most of Europe - believes the free market is a poor mechanism to protect vulnerable people from rape and physical assault. I'm not being flippant here: customers have routinely shown that for lower prices they'll suffer almost anything, to the point that safer alternatives become uncompetitive. TfL isn't asking for much here: just that drivers are vetted properly and consistently. Every other firm in London is asked to do it, and complies. If Uber can put them all out of business by saving money on not doing that, the market will make the industry less safe for passengers. We have voted in people to ensure that doesn't happen, because we want protection from the free market, simple as.

travisoneill1 7y ago
Is there actually any data that shows traditional taxis are safer? I bet there isn't because if there was it would have been used by the taxi companies by now.
- robocat 7y ago
  "A few years ago a genuinely licensed black cab driver was convicted of rape and sexual assault, and as a result the community was shaken: it was the first time in over 300 years where a licensed operator had been convicted of such a crime" - PaulRobinson - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21630846 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21630846 Do we have any numbers on sexual assaults by Uber drivers in London?
  - KaiserPro 7y ago
    https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/security-on-the-network/tph-related-sexual-offences#on-this-page-1 https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/security-on...
malandrew 7y ago
Vetted properly and consistently like John Worboys was? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Worboys https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Worboys

lmm 7y ago

Because by the time you find out whether a particular company's vetting was good enough, it's far too late. It's a lemon market, and regulation is the standard, economist-approved solution to those.