Not just for toddlers: Uber drivers get ‘timeouts’ if they turn down UberPool rides

By Bruce Brown Published July 29, 2016

Uber drivers aren’t big fans of UberPool, according to CNN Money. If drivers turn down UberPool rides they take a chance of being shut out of the system from anywhere between 4 and 15 minutes. These timeouts, typically given after refusing two or three UberPool ride requests, limit the amount of money drivers can earn in a day and can make them feel they’re being treated like children.

The timeouts seem to contradict Uber’s insistence that its drivers are independent contractors. “True independent contractors have the freedom to decide when they want to work and what kind of work they want to do,” said Harvard Law School professor Benjamin Sachs. “By giving drivers timeouts, Uber is exercising the kind of control over its workforce that employers exercise over employees.”

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Uber sends ride requests to the nearest driver in most cases. The company wants high driver ride-acceptance rates because that means riders get quicker service and are therefore more likely to use Uber the next time they need a ride. When CNN asked Uber about the timeout policy the company didn’t provide any detail but referred to its general policy under which drivers with low acceptance rates can be logged out of the service temporarily.

Uber makes the case for UberPool by stating that riders are able to get discounted rides in peak times by riding with other people on trips to and from similar locations. The company says drivers can make more money by carrying more fares. Drivers say it doesn’t work that way.

One former San Francisco driver, who drove for Uber for two years but has since stopped, said, “The pay is not worth it. You’re constantly running around putting wear and tear on your vehicle for small fares.”

Drivers also say UberPool rides hurt customer ratings. Riders used to direct transportation don’t like having to sidetrack to pick up another rider, who sometimes they don’t enjoy sitting next to. At the end of the ride, if the rider isn’t pleased the only way to express displeasure is to give the ride a poor rating.

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Contributing Editor

Bruce Brown Contributing Editor As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…

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Subaru is finally accelerating into the EV fast lane. The automaker is officially teasing the 2026 Trailseeker, an all-new electric SUV set to debut at the New York International Auto Show next week. While details are still scarce, the Trailseeker marks Subaru’s long-awaited second entry into the EV space, joining the Solterra — and the expectations couldn't be higher.
The teaser image offers only a glimpse of the Trailseeker’s rear badge and taillight, but the name alone suggests rugged ambitions. It's a clear nod to Subaru’s outdoorsy heritage. But in the EV space, the outdoors belongs to brands like Rivian, whose upcoming R2 compact SUV is already turning heads. The Trailseeker is Subaru’s chance to reassert its identity in an electric age.
Currently, Subaru’s only EV is the Solterra, a joint venture with Toyota that shares a platform with the bZ4X. While the Solterra nails some Subaru essentials — all-wheel drive, spaciousness, and off-road capability — it falls short on key EV metrics. Reviewers have pointed to its modest 225-mile range, slow 100kW charging, and unremarkable acceleration, especially compared to rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The hope is that Subaru has learned from these criticisms and is poised to deliver a more competitive product. The Trailseeker could either be a variation of a newer Toyota EV (possibly the next-gen C-HR+), or something entirely new under the shared platform strategy. Subaru previously announced that its next three EVs would be co-developed with Toyota, before launching four in-house EVs by 2028.
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For cars registered between 2020 and 2022, EVs averaged just 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles, while ICE cars saw more than double that, at 10.4 per 1,000. Even with more EVs hitting the road, they only accounted for 1.2% of total breakdowns — a big win for the battery-powered crowd.
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But EVs aren’t completely flawless. They had a slightly higher rate of tire-related issues — 1.3 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles compared to 0.9 for ICE cars. That could be due to their heavier weight and high torque, which can accelerate tire wear. Still, this trend is fading in newer EVs as tire tech and vehicle calibration improve.
Now, zooming out beyond Germany: a 2024 Consumer Reports study in the U.S. painted a different picture. It found that EVs, especially newer models, had more reliability issues than gas cars, citing tech glitches and inconsistent build quality. But it’s worth noting that the American data focused more on owner-reported problems, not just roadside breakdowns.
So, while the long-term story is still developing, especially for older EVs, Germany’s data suggests that when it comes to simply keeping you on the road, EVs are pulling ahead — quietly, efficiently, and with far fewer breakdowns than you might expect.