Skip to main content

Concern over Uber’s vetting processes after US shooting

The arrest of an Uber driver in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has prompted renewed interest in the company’s driver vetting process. Uber has confirmed that Jason Brian Dalton, accused of injuring two and killing six people over the 20-21 February 2016 weekend in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was an Uber driver who had passed the background checks with no criminal records. The company’s website says that Uber operates an extensive driver screening process which includes collecting detailed information from potential d
February 22, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The arrest of an Uber driver in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has prompted renewed interest in the company’s driver vetting process.

Uber has confirmed that Jason Brian Dalton, accused of injuring two and killing six people over the 20-21 February 2016 weekend in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was an Uber driver who had passed the background checks with no criminal records.

The company’s website says that Uber operates an extensive driver screening process which includes collecting detailed information from potential drivers, including address, age, social security number, driving licence, vehicle registration and insurance details. These are then checked by the investigation service Checkr, which also checks the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website, National Criminal Search and several different databases used to flag suspected terrorists.

Uber says it also uses technology to enable a safer ride by giving passengers information about their driver, tracking all trips using GPS from beginning to end and incorporating feedback from riders and drivers.

However, according to the Wall Street Journal, Californian prosecutors alleged that the process was unable to detect drivers who can possibly be harmful.

Uber’s chief security officer, Joe Sullivan, has confirmed that the company is helping the police with their investigations.

Related Content

  • May 13, 2016
    Australia’s laws are ‘not ready for driverless vehicles’
    Australia’s National Transport Commission (NTC) has released Regulatory Options for Automated Vehicles, a discussion paper that finds a number of legislative barriers to increasing vehicle automation. The paper proposes that there are barriers that need to be addressed as soon as possible to ensure clarity around the status of more automated vehicles on Australia’s roads and to support further trials. In the longer term other legislative barriers will need to be addressed to allow fully driverless vehic
  • July 28, 2017
    Swedish Transport Agency attempts to minimise damage done by IT outsourcing deal
    The Swedish government is attempting to minimise the damage done by an IT outsourcing deal that could have exposed classified information to foreign powers. Swedish news website The Local reports that the country’s security police Säpo investigated the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) after information about all vehicles in the country, including police and military, was made available to IT workers in the Czech Republic who had not gone through the usual security clearance checks when the agen
  • May 23, 2014
    Taxi apps causing anger and frustration
    Hailo, an app that allows Londoners to hail a taxi through their smartphones, was founded in 2010 by three black-cab drivers and three technology entrepreneurs. Hailo is now causing tensions with the capital’s black-cab drivers, who are angry that Hailo bosses have applied to Transport for London for a private hire licence - the same as minicabs. Limousines and a pre-booking option are among services Hailo could offer under the new licence. It is understood that Hailo hopes to receive a decision from TfL wi
  • March 16, 2012
    Combining OCR and LPR technology aids truck identification
    Automatic reading of Department of Transport numbers can provide an effcient and reliable means for enhancing the saftey and securitiy of freight operations, argues vice president for cargo solutions at High Tech Services, Benjie Wells. A key element of port security is identification of trucks at entry points to freight terminals and handling points.