Uber vs Taxi: Keeping you safe

The Uber driver accused of killing six people in Kalamazoo, Michigan admitted to his role in the over five-hour killing spree Saturday.

One of Jason Dalton’s passengers used Uber’s app to report vital information about him to police.

“She (police) asked if I can give her a physical description of him. I remembered I had my Uber receipt and I texted her a picture from the receipt,” said Matt Mellen

So what does this mean for you if you’re looking for a ride in the Coachella Valley?

It’s not just Uber, cabs are now offering apps to help you find a ride, but is the added convenience making your ride any safer?

Do you know who you’re getting in the car with?

News Channel 3′ goesin depthinto what Uber and taxis are doing to keep you safe.

With one viral bad ride to the next, getting in a stranger’s car or cab might not be that appealing. However, smartphone apps are helping keep drivers and passengers safe

Ordering a ride from Uber takes just a click of a button.

“Everything is going to be charged to your account, and therefore you don’t have to have cash on you,” said Valley Uber driver Tim Donovan.

The ordering process’ simplicity is its big selling point.

“I’ve probably Ubered about 60 times in the latest eight months,” said one passenger in Indian Wells.

Uber takes the technology a step further. Before you car arrives, it sends a message to your smartphone with the driver’s picture and license plate number. That way you know exactly who you are getting in the car with.

“It makes you a lot more comfortable about the ride ya, that they vetted the person out to make sure they took a picture,” said an Uber passenger.

Uber also lets you send that information, your GPS tracked route and estimated time of arrival to up to five contacts.

“People know a lot more of what they are getting into,” said Donovan.

Our Uber driver for the day is Tim Donovan, the Valley’s first driver when Uber came to the area in 2013.

“It’s been everything I could ever dream in a job,” said Donovan. “I’m my own boss, I do my own thing.”

After losing his job, Donovan became a full time driver. He says he’s never had a problem.

“I’ve been servicing close to 40,000 people and I’ve never had an incident that would prompt me to even think I need assistance or police help,” said Donovan.

So how much do people living in or visiting the Valley really use Uber verses a taxi? We went to a local hot spot to find out.

Uber was very popular.

“We are thinking about Ubering because taxis are pretty expensive these days,” said Kathryn Landrigan.

“We have the Uber app, it’s easy and convenient and we’ve had good luck with it,” said Debra.

People who chose a taxi did so out of convenience.

“Because it’s right here and not an app away,” said one taxi user.

“He was the one who showed up first so that’s who we took,” said Adam Polkinghorne.

“I feel like my generation cab, designated driver, my daughter’s age maybe my son’s age do Uber,” said Nancy Garyhack.

Cab companies don’t send customers pictures of their driver, but most are now offering similar apps to order rides.

“Yellow cab uses an app same kind of thing, difference is, we don’t do price surging, we are regulated by Sunline,” said Yellow Cab driver Ross Seidner.

It’s that regulation taxi drivers believe sets them apart from Uber

“We are vetted by the FBI, we do security checks, we are fully insured and you know what you are getting,” said Seider. “You are not getting some guy in a car who decides he wants some extra money for the week and is going to drive Uber.”

Uber drivers do go through background checks. While they use their own cars, it must pass an inspection. Customers also rate their experience and can see their driver’s rating before ever getting in the car.

“I definitely take pride in my rating. It’s really the thing we as drivers hold close to our hearts because we want to be as perfect as possible,” said Donovan.

That perfection has paid off, Uber has become a large part of the way people get around in the Valley. Now the city of Palm Springs is looking at expanding Uber’s service area to the airport.

“We want to make sure these rides are safe for our tourists. Obviously now our taxi cabs provide a significant amount of that, we are taking all of this into account, but I think we need to in essence get with the times, if you will, and create a model that the ride share certainly can come and go to the airports with tourists,” said Palm Springs City Manager David Ready.

That model will include a permit process, one Donavon says he’d be happy to take part in.

“We are there to get you home safely and that is what we do,” said Donavon.

The Palm Springs City Council is expected to make a decision on Uber picking up at the airport sometime in the next two months.