Ridesharing reduces driving stress and also saves a lot of money. These savings are a direct result of decreased maintenance expenses, reduced fuel costs, and lower insurance rates.
In the United States, cars and light vehicles are thought to be the main causes of air quality issues. As per the 2019 EPA data, highway vehicles, including passenger cars and light trucks, are to be responsible for 9% of the country’s emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 27% of its emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), 32% of its emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx), and 17% of its emissions of greenhouse gases. Thereby, when you carpool, you go a long way toward saving the planet and allowing it to breathe for a few more years.
The market size for carpooling has grown drastically in recent years. It has seen growth from $9.64 billion in 2023 to $11.15 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.7%. It is expected to increase to around $17.62 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 12.1%, according to a recent report by the business research company statistics. The reasons behind its growth could be attributed to the launch of autonomous vehicles, initiatives by corporations, suitable regulatory policies, and increasing demand for sustainable transportation.
Having said that, being a passenger in a car driven by a stranger is always risky. You never know if the driver is good or not. Since the boom of the rideshare industry, accidents have increased by 3%. In the event of an accident, you should speak with the best rideshare accident lawyers in your area. They will help you get the compensation you deserve for your losses.
Learning how to spot a bad driver can help greatly in avoiding accidents. We will look at some key signs of a bad rideshare driver:
Rash driving
You should be worried about your safety if the rideshare driver is speeding, swerving, or acting irrationally while transporting you to your destination. Keep your cool and request to exit at the next pullover space or exit. It’s always best to be safe than sorry and use another Uber or Lyft.
Initiating Inappropriate Conversations
Most of the rideshare drivers would be looking to strike up a conversation with you, which is fair enough and even nice to an extent. However, if you feel the conversation is getting too personal and the driver is asking too much about yourself, then you may ask the driver to pull over and report the behavior to the ridesharing company.
Refusal To Follow the Company’s Guidelines
Standard rules laid down by the respective rideshare company should be followed. These rules include: ensuring the car is kept clean and tidy, strictly abiding by road rules and signs as applicable, taking the swiftest and safest route to ensure the passengers reach their destination at the earliest. If any of the above rules are not being followed by the driver, you must exit the car and report the behavior to the appropriate authorities.
In case you are injured on rideshare travel, you can exercise the same rights that you would if you were injured by a third-party driver. Every rideshare company has its own policies and conditions when it comes to personal injury and settlement claims. Hence, it’s always best to hire a rideshare lawyer who has expertise and experience in handling such cases.