RIDEGURU
I guess it isn't limited to Uber either. Lyft, taxis, limos, ... Don't they want to get to destinations faster so they can pick up more fares?
Why do all my Uber drivers drive so slow?
Anonymous
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Posted 6 years, 5 months ago
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The Guru Take
For multiple reasons:
Despite the bad rep that drivers have as reckless and speedy on the streets of New York, most drivers do drive safely and at the speed limit. Not sure about "slow" though.
See a few points below:
- Drivers tend to be safer and do not speed. Driving records are checked by the company. Why risk losing your job, account, or (in the case of a limo driver) your livery license? Their livelihood depends on it.
- Driving fast and changing speeds erratically increases the wear on their cars and gas consumption, both hurting their profits. Gas is one of the biggest expense for the drivers.
- Driving faster does not increase the payout. The fare is calculated by distance and *duration*. Driving faster will more likely net them less money. (The only time this makes sense is when you are trying to get more fares, quantity wise.)
- Drivers often mellow out after a little bit of experience. When this is your primarily job and do it for hours a day, you take it slow. You drive safely, you pace yourself, and you do not race other drivers. Driving fast and weaving through traffic is stressful, and eventually all drivers say, "why would I do that to myself?"
I hope that helps.
ippei
1202
Uber Driver, CEO of TaxiFareFinder and Unleashed, LLC
Featured Answers
TerryIrving
255
Driver
Rideshare drivers know 2 things that you probably don't think about.
One. Their license is their livelihood. Losing it could mean a missed mortgage. Also, one camera speed ticket takes all the profit from a 10-hour day. I usually simply ask a passenger who is in a hurry for $100 cash upfront. They have never paid so I don't go fast.
Two. In a major city, all cars move at about the same speed. That leadfoot that just passed me will be waiting at the next stoplight. Roundabouts, potholes, speedbumps, everything conspires to create an average speed. I suppose it's different in different cities but it's absolutely impossible to drive Washington DC at anything above 25 MPH. That speed also means that the morons who pull out from a parking space in front of you or blow a red light are in front of you instead of in the passenger seat along with the passenger.
A reasonable speed (which is always below the speed limit) makes a 10 or 12 hour day relaxing and, since I make just as much money driving at a reasonable speed, I've got to think that the passengers are getting to their destinations as fast as possible.
Comments
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Rideshare drivers know 2 things that you probably don't think about.
One. Their license is their livelihood. Losing it could mean a missed mortgage. Also, one camera speed ticket takes all the profit from a 10-hour day. I usually simply ask a passenger who is in a hurry for $100 cash upfront. They have never paid so I don't go fast.
Two. In a major city, all cars move at about the same speed. That leadfoot that just passed me will be waiting at the next stoplight. Roundabouts, potholes, speedbumps, everything conspires to create an average speed. I suppose it's different in different cities but it's absolutely impossible to drive Washington DC at anything above 25 MPH. That speed also means that the morons who pull out from a parking space in front of you or blow a red light are in front of you instead of in the passenger seat along with the passenger.
A reasonable speed (which is always below the speed limit) makes a 10 or 12 hour day relaxing and, since I make just as much money driving at a reasonable speed, I've got to think that the passengers are getting to their destinations as fast as possible.
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Solid points, but profit loss of a 10-hour day? How do you figure that? Isn't it more like 10 work days.
The last time I got a ticket, I did the math and it ended up being like $1500. Icluding the ticket and insurance costs, not to mention the time it took me to go to court. (Hey, it was worth a shot.)
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LOL. So true. It happens to me at least 2 to 3 times a week, and every time I think to myself, "do they really expect me to get a ticket or lose a license for this $18 ride?
Have you really asked for a "$100 cash upfront?" That's awesome, but I have to ask. a) Do people take it facetiously? (It must depend on your delivery) b) would you do it if someone handed you a $100 bill? :)
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I think the question should be, "why does everyone else go so fast?" For the most part you will find Uber drivers trying to stay around the speed limit. This is for a very good reason that which has nothing to do with what most of these other answers suggest.
Each day, late in the afternoon Uber sends each driver a report. It is breakdown of every stop and start the driver made that day while on platform. Acceleration, deceleration and speed are all monitored by GPS by Uber. If your usage report is shabby you are warned and then fired from the platform.
So next time your Uber driver is going the speed limit but everyone else is flying by just remember, the driver does not have the freedom to waive GPS observations.
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It is your thinking that is slow and for that reason you think the driver is going slow. No fare is ever worth a summons under any circumstances including you at death s doorstep.
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They should make an express option. Driver drives like bat out of hell. Costs extra because you gotta pay for any speeding tickets incurred :)
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