It is a 'please get out of bed' payment, to try and manage shortages of drivers. If they could do this without tacking it onto price, by making an explicit 'pl

It is a 'please get out of bed' payment, to try and manage shortages of drivers. If they could do this without tacking it onto price, by making an explicit 'please get out of bed' payment from uber to a fresh driver on their first fare during a shortage, they may be able to create the same economic incentive to the driver without being seen to price gouge. Of course, this would involve raising prices slightly overall to pay for it, but you get rid of the swings in price.