If you've driven for more than a month and you've tackled all the "easy stuff" you're probably starting to read on driver boards about (or experience) more advanced issues, situations or problems. This post is titled Drivers 201 because it's more advanced information you might face or be considering. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, feel free to contact me or comment on these items if you have questions or suggestions to be included. FYI - this is a longer post.
First, be sure you understand the insurance issue. It's surprising how many drivers just pick up their car keys and head out the door without giving insurance a second thought. It varies from state to state but bottom line is check that your insurance will cover you as a rideshare driver. There are a few that will cover you without any problems or extra fees, some charge more because you're driving passengers. There are some insurance companies that have "rideshare" gap insurance that you can purchase in addition to the regular policy.
In short: Uber / Lyft have insurance to cover ONLY when you have an active passenger.
If you are "en route" to the passenger you may not be covered and need additional insurance. Some states require the rideshare company to cover this time "en route" time frame, others leave it up to you. If you have the rideshare app on and you are waiting for a passenger you are most likely not going to be covered.
And don't think that you can just "hide" your driving from the insurance companies - we know that Uber is reporting their drivers, and you are required to tell your insurance company you are driving for a rideshare provider. I know of drivers who mysteriously got a letter from their insurance company advising of a substantial rate increase due to the rideshare activity prior to the driver advising insurance of their new occupation.
Don't risk getting dropped - take care of your insurance now. Remember: No insurance = no rideshare driving.
Speaking of things that can get you dropped from driving: personal protection devices. Okay guns. Don't do it. All NRA and 2nd Amendment rights aside, the idea is for you to be safe. Guns in closed quarters are never a good idea. Not to mention it's against the Uber / Lyft terms of service. And as one driver pointed out, if you really feel that you're not safe and need a gun, maybe this isn't the job for you. For personal safety, if you really think you need something, a taser is going to be enough to demobilize anyone threatening you. Alternatively (or in addition) dash cam is a great deterrent, knowing that any potential issues are being recorded.
There is something that happens universally when someone knows they are on camera: they behave better. Police officers have found that by wearing cameras not only do they censor themselves, the people they are speaking with also take it down a notch. This is also why there are cameras in convenience stores, parking lots, banks - you name it. When people know they are on camera, they are less likely to cause problems. This is the fundamental value of the dash cam.
If you have followed any of the negative media that Uber drivers get from time to time, you'll find that drivers who have dash cams generally get exonerated of any accusations. One of the most noted stories involved a driver accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger who was very drunk. The driver had a 90 minute recording of the ride which resulted in all charges to be dropped. Another example is the high powered Taco Bell exec who physically assaulted his driver, the driver was able to sue because of the beating since it was all on the dash cam.
Dash cams also come in handy for proving when a passenger is in your car to begin with and any conversation about changing routes or destinations. More than a few drivers have been able to successfully prove their fees in a passenger fare dispute due to the dash cam - especially when the passenger wasn't coherent enough to know what was going on to begin with.
Dealing with a passenger who has passed out is a special case. I know drivers who refuse to take solo passengers who are clearly too inebriated to walk because of the potential problems. First and foremost, how do you get the person who can't walk out of your car if they don't have a buddy?
Yesterday at 4:30am I had a very drunk passenger who got into the car and looked like she was just drunk (not too far gone) but by the time we got to her house she was having problems walking and ended up passing out on her front steps. Out of concern (it was raining) I went over and touched her to see if she was alright. I walked with her to the garage where she managed to open the automatic door with a code to go it. But what if she didn't wake up?
Passengers who pass out in your car could just be tired and drunk. Or they could be having a seizure or other medical issue. First try to wake them. If they don't wake up call 911 or head to the nearest emergency / police / fire station. Unless you're trained to give medical attention, you really just don't know. And if you have a dash cam no one will fault you for erring to the side of caution.
One more point about dash cams and other devices. Most drivers will at least toggle between the driver app and the rider app. Some drivers will have 2 devices running at the same time - while one is the rideshare app, the other device provides additional GPS (WAZE is good), music, video or the rider app. By having multiple devices you'll be able to keep them all running smoothly - just remember to keep your cables neat. No one likes an electronics mess.
Using the rider app while you're on Uber or Lyft allows you to see where other drivers are positioned. You can then find a sweet spot where other drivers are not that allows you access to a different group of passengers. It's never wise to crowd the other drivers, unless of course there is a big crowd of pax and you have no choice.
Trying to use the app in a crowd leads to other issues like the groups of passengers who all try to call an Uber and take the first one that arrives, cancelling all the others. Very frustrating for drivers but usually you'll get another fare immediately - if you can find them. Or someone jumps into your car and says "can you take me." Why not? You just got dumped by the other fare.... so just get the ping right? Not so easy.
When there is a crowd and a lot of Uber around it's difficult to get the rider who is sitting right next to you. There is no easy solution to this problem because if you drive any distance with someone in the car, not on the app, you're risking an accident (remember, there is a reason it's an accident not an "on purpose") and then you won't be covered by rideshare insurance.
The best thing to do for guaranteed pick ups during heavy crowd situations is to have your passenger reserve you in advance. How does this solve the problem? You can be reserved and pinged at a location away from the crowd then proceed to your passengers. For example, crowd at large arena, concert letting out. Have your passenger ping you as if they are at a nearby hotel where you are waiting - you'll be the closest to that address and get the ping. Then you go to the venue and pick up your pax at an agreed upon pick up point. The key is getting a reservation in advance through Uzurv.
The same thing works for geofenced areas like airports and festivals. If the pax reserves you and then pings you at an outside pick up point you can proceed in to get them and be there within minutes without all the frustration of them hunting you down and vice versa - they know who to expect and the vehicle because they have reserved you and worked out the details in advance. And it's all on the up and up with Uber / Lyft and state laws because at the very heart of the TNC rules is the fact that all rides are "pre-arranged" via an app - and Uzurv meets the same criteria.
There are so many nuances to being a top notch driver making the bucks and the more that you work as a rideshare driver the more you'll come up with situations that are unique. But at this point pretty much everything has been done, tried etc. It's up to you to build your biz, work smart and use the tools you have available to make the most of your rideshare adventure.
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