Talking about UBER drivers and those who drive for LYFT. Use your own car to make extra money. A WARNING!

UBER and LYFT drivers are under-appreciated and under-paid. There's something bigger going on here though.

Have you ever taken an UBER or a LYFT? Have you ever driven one? Thought of doing it?

Luckily youtube is full of uber and lyft experiences. In general, the idea is quite sound. It uses a cell phone APP to get instant personable transportation from an amateur and it puts extra cash into the driver's hands.

The passengers like it, because the ride is cheaper than taking a cab, and often the experience is a lot more personable.

Consider an amateur UBER or LYFT driver like a new friend driving you to your destination.

I love the idea. That's why it is a viral idea that has thousands of people participating in it.

What makes it a workable model, is that in most places you do not need a special license plate. Yes, you may need a Class 4 license, and 3 years of driving experience, but unlike a regular taxi, you don't need to pay absorbent sums to be able to drive for UBER or LYFT as a regulated taxi cab.

You also don't have to paint your vehicle, have special signage, a dispatcher, and commercial liability insurance. The cost savings gets passed on to the passengers and that's why the system works.

Another benefit is that both LYFT and UBER drivers can do this part-time. That means they are part-time drivers who can pick up rides at their leisure. If they're tired, they can opt-out of picking up the next fare, and let someone else do it.

• What ends up happening is a safer ride for everyone.

There are plenty of horror stories of traditional full-time taxi cab drivers who basically live in their cabs for 18 hours a day. They take wake-up caffeine pills. They overwork themselves, especially if they are a private operator with their own vehicle who works as a single owner/operator of their own taxi.

SO WHAT IS THE WARNING?

The warning is for drivers themselves. Many traditional taxis are outfitted with plexiglass between driver and the backseat (almost like police cars) to protect them from robbery and abusive passengers.

Many taxis also have a "yellow flashing light" next to the license plate (or mounted on the roof) much like a money truck for when they are in trouble. They push a secret button to activate the "I need help light".

Most UBER / LYFT drivers do not have this type of protection. Instead, many of them run DVR cameras to film the ride in the event they need it for evidence purposes, but even then, a camera won't save you from a car jacking, a robbery or a stabbing.

While it could be agreed by most, 99.5% of all UBER / LYFT transactions are completely safe and normal... there is that 0.5% opportunity that the engagement with a stranger could end in ruin.

That's the subject of discussion today... UBER and LYFT drivers in order to make a second part-time income often put themselves in harms way. Is it worth it?

The clear motive for most UBER or LYFT drivers is to make a few extra dollars every month. An extra $500 in earnings can totally help you afford your rent, your grocery bill, your cell phone, or even pay down that over inflated credit card balance.

...However, if you get into a deadly situation, all of a sudden that extra $500 a month you've been earning means nothing important anymore if you don't go home to your family after a severe event.

Why do these drivers take that risk?

• It is not a matter of choice. Drivers need to find some ways of earning extra income just to pay their everyday bills.

I have a suggestion.

If police officers ever find themselves in trouble, they put a call out on a radio "officer needs assistance". Immediately all police officers in the area will go "code 3" (lights and siren) and show up to the last known location of that officer's last radio transmission and flood the area with people willing to help.

Do UBER or LYFT drivers have a panic button installed in their cars?

• If not, why not?
• A panic button sent to head office should immediately call all other uber drivers in the area to let someone know another driver is in distress.

To put this into perspective:

Ever see an accident scene? I've seen it before where the tow trucks use to show up before the police and ambulance. That was back in the day when analog radio scanners could pick up calls to police and ambulance dispatch.

Call would come over the ambulance or police car radio: "Three car accident at Oak St and John St."

Next thing you'd see first is 6 tow trucks... and then the sirens and flashing lights of police and ambulance would arrive 6 to 10 minutes later.

That was amusing and weird at the same time!

Now radio frequencies are encrypted and digital. Tow truck drivers no longer hear these calls, and they are less likely to show up at an accident scene unless they are lucky enough to find out without their radio scanner.

UBER and LYFT needs to capitalize on their phone apps. Install a bluetooth button that when a driver pushes it, you get 15-20 other drivers in the area showing up to lend a hand before the police get there.

These other drivers can even just be witnesses. Maybe they can help fend of 2-3 attackers of a fellow driver. Who knows?

Either way, if I was driving UBER or LYFT, I would want this bluetooth panic button installed in my vehicle to feel safe.

I fully believe that fellow uber drivers in the area would show up faster than the police.

...once certain evil minded or drunk passengers knew abusing or considering robbering an UBER or LYFT driver would result in speedy swarming of other drivers... they wouldn't even dare.

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• HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN AN UBER OR LYFT AS A PASSENGER?

• HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AN UBER OR LYFT DRIVER?

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