The term professional driver could mean different things to different people. But the actual definition is a person paid or hired to offer transportation services, whether for public or private purposes.
Examples of professional drivers include traditional taxi drivers, Uber, Lyft, and other cab-hailing service providers. Professional drivers spend most of their hours on the road, which means staying at constant risk of getting into an accident and being exposed to other hazards in the industry.
If you are thinking of venturing into professional driving, this guide offers handy tips to help you stay safe on the road.
1. Always Wear Your Seatbelt
No matter how careful you are on the road, factors outside your control, such as a reckless driver or vehicle malfunction, can cause an accident. Having your seatbelt worn correctly in such circumstances can significantly reduce the severity of injuries.
According to seat belt statistics from the NHTSA, 15,000 lives are saved every year by wearing a seatbelt. That means you can significantly avoid thousands of deaths if you ensure that you and all your passengers have buckled up before getting on the road.
2. Get Additional Coverage
Your livelihood depends on your ability to make a living. Unfortunately, an accident can rob you of your ability to make a living. Therefore, ensuring that you are prepared for such eventualities is critical.
Most ride-sharing platforms offer limited insurance coverage for the driver and the passenger, but it may not be enough to cover resulting damages in case of an accident.
Also, if you are using your car to earn a living, the standard insurance coverage may not be adequate. You may want to ask your insurance agent to help you get coverage that will ensure that you and your vehicle are adequately covered.
3. Be Careful with Your Clients
Now and then, there is a story of an assault perpetrated on a cab driver. Therefore, it is vital to be careful with who you pick.
The first line of protection is asking the rider to confirm your name once you get to the pickup point to verify whether the person who ordered a ride is the same as boarding your vehicle.
It would also be essential to look closely at their demeanor while on the journey. If you have suspicions about the rider, stopping at the sight of a police officer would be a good thing to do.
Additionally, always trust your instincts. If you feel like canceling a ride at the pickup location, don’t hesitate to do so. You’d rather get a bad review than get into a dangerous situation.
4. Report Rider Behavior
Most cab-hailing services allow riders to rate and report driver misconduct. You can also rate or report a rider.
While reporting a rider after the end of a bad trip doesn’t help in keeping you safe for the trip, other drivers on your platform or other platforms will be cautious when picking the rider. If every one of the drivers did their part in rating ill-behaved riders, the safety of professional drivers on cab-hailing platforms would improve in the long run.
5. Install Cameras on Your Vehicle
When riders are aware of a recording device, they will be inclined not to misbehave for fear of being held accountable for their actions.
Also, interior cameras can help resolve disputed claims of abuse or misconduct. Without visual evidence, it is a case of your customer’s word against yours.
However, you may need to be cautious about your state’s recording laws. If you live in a two-party consent state, you may need to let every rider know that you are recording before you start driving.