Skip to main content

Uber to start watching its drivers more closely

Uber is introducing a new driver-monitoring feature sure to arouse mixed feelings among its drivers, according to the Wall Street Journal. Most drivers probably will welcome additional information about customer ratings, but at the same time may feel they’re being monitored too closely.

There will be at least two sets of cities involved in testing new driver monitoring systems. In each case, the drivers’ smartphones will be used both to collect and transmit the data and to report to the drivers.

Recommended Videos

In New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and at least six other cities, drivers will receive reports after each trip on how smooth their driving was, including scores for acceleration and braking. If the drivers go over the speed limit, Uber will send an immediate alert, not waiting for the after-trip report. If that sounds Big Brother-ish to you, you’re not alone.

A separate test in unidentified cities will watch for drivers touching their cell phones while in motion. By using the phones’ internal gyroscopes Uber will be able to tell if drivers are sending text messages. Texting while driving is a safety concern. It’s also illegal in 46 states plus Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Island, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Many Uber drivers bristle over the fact that they’re considered independent contractors, and would prefer to be treated as employees. And since they are considered independent contractors, drivers may consider monitoring their phone use invasive. Commercial-driver employees have been monitored by employers via various technologies for at least 50 years. (The original method employed motion-activated pens that marked a circular paper card as it rotated inside a locked clock in a truck cab.) But independent contractors are assumed to be just that — independent.

According to Uber, the purpose of the monitoring is to provide better feedback about rider ratings, the Wall Street Journal reports. If, for example, a driver gets high scores for behavior but poor driving scores, resulting in low ratings, that information could help the drivers. Uber also said the monitoring reports during the testing won’t be used by the company to penalize drivers with low scores. However, the company did not rule out negative consequences for low-scoring drivers in the future.

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Uber is making drivers take selfies to prove they’re wearing face masks
Transportation-Union-And-Rideshare-Drivers-United-Members-Hold-Rolling-Vehicle-Protest

 

Uber is not only insisting its drivers wear protective equipment as business starts to ramp up after two months of stay-at-home orders, the ridesharing giant is demanding proof.

Read more
California sues Uber, Lyft to force them to make drivers employees
Uber

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is suing Uber and Lyft over their alleged misclassification of their workers as independent contractors instead of as employees. 

Becerra filed a lawsuit against the two rideshare companies on Tuesday, saying that they violated California's new Assembly Bill 5 law that requires app-based companies to identify contractors as regular employees of the company. Under the bill, contractors are eligible for basic protections like minimum-wage requirements, health benefits, and Social Security. 

Read more
You can now lease a Hyundai EV on Amazon—and snag that $7,500 tax credit
amazon autos hyundai evs lease ioniq 6 n line seoul mobility show 2025 mk08

Amazon has changed how we shop for just about everything—from books to furniture to groceries. Now, it’s transforming the way we lease cars. Through Amazon Autos, you can now lease a brand-new Hyundai entirely online—and even better, you’ll qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit if you choose an electric model like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, or Kona EV.
Here’s why that matters: As of January 2025, Hyundai’s EVs no longer qualify for the tax credit if you buy them outright, due to strict federal rules about battery sourcing and final assembly. But when you lease, the vehicle is technically owned by the leasing company (Hyundai Capital), which allows it to be classified as a “commercial vehicle” under U.S. tax law—making it eligible for the credit. That savings is typically passed on to you in the form of lower lease payments.
With Amazon’s new setup, you can browse Hyundai’s EV inventory, secure financing, trade in your current vehicle, and schedule a pickup—all without leaving the Amazon ecosystem.
It’s available in 68 markets across the U.S., and pricing is fully transparent—no hidden fees or haggling. While Hyundai is so far the only automaker fully participating, more are expected to join over time.
Pioneered by the likes of Tesla, purchasing or leasing vehicles online has been a growing trend since the Covid pandemic.
A 2024 study by iVendi found that 74% of car buyers expect to use some form of online process for their next purchase. In fact, 75% said online buying met or exceeded expectations, with convenience and access to information cited as top reasons. The 2024 EY Mobility Consumer Index echoed this trend, reporting that 25% of consumers now plan to buy their next vehicle online—up from 18% in 2021. Even among those who still prefer to finalize the purchase at a dealership, 87% use online tools for research beforehand.
Meanwhile, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study reveals that while 86% of U.S. consumers still want to test-drive a vehicle in person, digital tools are now a critical part of the buying journey.
Bottom line? Amazon is making it easier than ever to lease an EV and claim that tax credit—without the dealership hassle. If you're ready to plug in, it might be time to add to cart.

Read more