Millions in America and around the world find in the Uber application for smartphones the ability to get delivery service whenever and wherever they are, bypassing taxis, and hundreds of thousands of people who own a car find the opportunity to work as drivers when they have the time to do so, but the idea of riding in a stranger’s car is still Confusing for many, especially after some cases of assault on passengers, is using Uber really more dangerous than asking for a taxi?
Uber is a smartphone application that uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) to identify nearby drivers and passengers. Instead of calling a traditional taxi, passengers review descriptions of nearby drivers and their vehicles. And the passenger can determine the location of the driver he chose while on his way to him by means of the GPS system.
The Uber smartphone app employs the Global Positioning System (GPS).
After the driver picks up the passenger, the passenger transfers the fare through the phone app via the credit card saved in the app. The passenger evaluates the driver's performance, which helps other passengers choose a driver with a good reputation. The driver also evaluates the passengers, ensuring that this data is recorded in the future in the event of any legal liability. To make sure drivers are reliable, Uber conducts a seven-year security review using the FBI's database, and riders actually pay for it, with the fare now including $1 for the "secure service." There are similar procedures in other countries.
The Uber service is currently available in 260 cities around the world, including Arab cities such as Jeddah, Riyadh, Cairo, Beirut, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The company said in December that it has 160,000 drivers in the United States who take delivery orders at least four times a month.
How much money does an Uber driver make?
Uber claims that its New York City drivers earn an estimated annual income of $90,000 as long as they work at least 40 hours a week full time. It says that its drivers in Dallas (Texas) can earn an annual income of up to $60,000.
However, these estimates do not take into account the availability of a permanent opportunity to deliver passengers. It also does not take into account the additional costs of working as an Uber driver, and Mustafa Kaddoura points out, “There are hidden costs, including gasoline, the age of the car and keeping it clean. Uber users give better ratings for clean cars.”
Nevertheless, investors in Uber are enthusiastic about its growth. The company was able to raise $4 billion from venture capitalists who invest in start-up companies, including major companies such as Benchmark and Google Ventures. Uber is currently valued at about $40 billion, making it the most expensive startup in the United States.
what about you? What do you think about applying Uber as a way to earn extra money? Do you think the idea of riding in an Uber with a stranger is safe? Share your opinion with us through the Radio Sawa and Al-Hurra applications on iPhone and Android phones, or express it with comments on our Facebook and Twitter pages.