The Uber vehicles I have been in have been newer and cleaner on average than yellow cabs - Uber has rules about it and user feedback incentivizes drivers to keep their cars clean (not so with cabs!).

Uber has a photo of your driver and a description of the vehicle including license plate. I've taken thousands of rides and have never had a car that wasn't the one listed show up (I certainly wouldn't get in it if so). I suppose someone could borrow both someone's uber app and car and impersonate them if they looked similar to the photo. But that can absolutely happen with a yellow cab too (and in my experience does more frequently, since a yellow cab driver who is sick or can't drive still has to pay rent on the car - so they have every incentive to have a friend or relative drive for them).

And in terms of personal safety of course, it's tracked, which makes both driver and passenger safer.

Anonymous wrote:Uber is way safer in my own experience. New cars versus the 10 year old beaters that cabs drive. I also think the uber drivers themselves are safer, run the AC and are just generally better. VA cabs aren't bad, it's the DC ones that suck.

I totally disagree. I take Uber/Lyft often. It seems to me that many of the drivers got the licenses yesterday and they have no idea where they are going and rely completely on GPS, to the point of making ridiculous driving decisions. Sometimes I'm seriously worried. When I do take a cab, which isn't often because it really isn't convenient, I find taxi drivers much better.

I've never had a bad Uber experience. I have had many awful cab experiences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DC taxicab commission is a licensing and regulatory body that has government oversight. Uber is a fly-by-night corporation that makes its money from undercutting legitimate cabs. You do the math.

DC cabs are a scam. All the decades they refused to get out of the zone system and then fighting the credit cards. They refuse to keep up with the times.

Agreed. HUGE scam. They also are scamming their taxi drivers too. I never think Uber is scamming it's drivers or forcing them to pay a rental for the car that costs half a day's wages.

Anonymous wrote:The DC taxicab commission is a licensing and regulatory body that has government oversight. Uber is a fly-by-night corporation that makes its money from undercutting legitimate cabs. You do the math.

DC cabs are a scam. All the decades they refused to get out of the zone system and then fighting the credit cards. They refuse to keep up with the times.

Uber is way safer in my own experience. New cars versus the 10 year old beaters that cabs drive. I also think the uber drivers themselves are safer, run the AC and are just generally better. VA cabs aren't bad, it's the DC ones that suck.

Cabs are safer then Uber - much more regulated.

I've seen some rickerty cabs. Haven't tried uber/lyft.

I think on average, yellow cab drivers are MUCH safer than uber drivers. I've had some insanely bad Uber drivers. But Uber cars are generally in better repair.

The DC taxicab commission is a licensing and regulatory body that has government oversight. Uber is a fly-by-night corporation that makes its money from undercutting legitimate cabs. You do the math.

Anonymous wrote:It's usually 10 years or less for age of the car plus an annual inspection for s list of things uber looks for at an approved mechanic.

Uber drivers have been known to use a friends car for the inspection, then their own (same make and model, questionable year/repair status) for actual pick ups. I had an Uber show up for me in Des Moines at the airport that looked fine from the passenger side, but they had clearly been hit badly on the driver side and had two donuts! I switched to Lyft after that and am now mostly back to cabs.

It's usually 10 years or less for age of the car plus an annual inspection for s list of things uber looks for at an approved mechanic.

A driver told me they have to report the cars they are driving and they can’t be too old. Not sure what standards uber has. But generally the Uber’s I’ve been in are way newer and presumably more safety features than many cabs.

I often wonder how safe the vehicles of Uber drivers are or what standards they adhere to by the company? Also notice that some can be erratic drivers causing me worry. Does anyone know how safe their vehicles are?