My concern is how these drivers are vetted to start with.
I’m uncomfortable with a ‘sometime’ driver, who does it when he/she feels like it, catching a way to make a few bucks between other priorities.
In my area, the cab drivers with the old, highly regulated companies, are generally full-time. The only time I was ever afraid, was with one Indian or Pakistani driver who was obviously working too many hours - he had a serious problem with his right arm that was interfering with his driving, and kept shifting around in his seat so much that he wasn’t driving straight. The man was in pain from overwork, and was a menace on the road.
But that was only one time, and other than that I’ve never had a bad experience with the local cab companies.
On the other hand, I’ve personally known some people who have signed-up for these ‘do-it-now-and-then’ companies. I’ll let it suffice to say that my knowledge of them personally doesn’t exactly recommend their driving skills nor, in some cases, their personal senses of responsibility.
Generally, the full-time taxi drivers with long-established companies seem to be better vetted, and have more at stake.
(It doesn’t matter to me that these drivers are ‘tracked’. I could be dead before the ‘tracking’ is even called up and investigated.)
Just FYI, I’ve done Uber a hundred times and I’ve never had a bad experience...and it costs a fraction of a taxi. You get to rate the driver after your trip too. The transaction is automatic and hassle free. It’s just +++ imo.
I have, however, had many instances of a taxi being one of the most dirtiest vehicles I’ve ever been in. Many times needing some obvious maintenance, squeaking shocks, along with a “professional driver” which doesn’t use the most optimal route and has a death wish.
In my experience the taxi industry has used legislation to push out competition and it shows in spades. Uber has been far superior on multiple levels.
I just believe this story is an exception, an incredibly stupid criminal - which you can’t protect against.