Should Parents Use Uber For Their Children?

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Imagine a scenario where you need to get your child somewhere, but are physically incapable of driving them yourself. You’re probably running a million different alternatives through your mind. Do you call your parents, reach out to friends, or tell your child they can’t go? If all else fails, you can call an Uber.

Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life
Michael Palin

Calling Uber for Teens

For a long time, parents believed that Uber was unsafe. This is because their drivers didn’t have to go through the rigorous fingerprinting and background checks that taxi drivers did. Since then, Uber has changed its requirements for drivers and have ensured client safety by forcing drivers to go through more checks.

Because of this, believe it or not, parents are starting to embrace using Uber for their teenaged children. Many parents claim that it is up to the discretion of the parent. But using Uber is extremely convenient for parents who have a few too many responsibilities. By cutting out just a few “chauffeur” trips, like perhaps having Uber drive your son to sports practice every Monday and Wednesday, parents can significantly cut down on their stress, too.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
– Mark Twain

It is worth noting that Uber does not allow children under the age of 18 to ride alone, though many Uber drivers waive this rule for a short trip. Many parents are also embracing the app, as they feel a sense of security in being able to see the GPS of the trip and know where their child is at all times.

Using The Uber App

If you are going to use the Uber app for your child, there are a few tips that you should always keep in mind:

UberFamily is a new service that allows parents to ride with their young children. This ride will include car seats for the youngest and tablets to keep them safe and occupied throughout the trip.
Anyone can sign up to be an Uber driver. There is a background check, but there is no regulatory agency looking into these new drivers
Many parents who use Uber to shuttle their children from place to place recommend that children send the license plate information of the car that picked them up to their parents upon entering the vehicle. This way, should something happen, the car plates are known and documented beforehand.
Children are best suited to go in groups. No one under the age of 13 should ever ride in an Uber alone. Teenagers should go in groups of 3 or more for safety purposes.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you want to know specifics, it’s perfectly okay to grill your Uber driver. They’d rather you feel safe than unsafe.