Starting Thursday, Lyft is launching a new pilot program designed to better protect drivers in Seattle.
Driver Verification allows passengers to upload their driver’s license, which is checked against a third-party data source.
“Lyft says they will use an unnamed third party to investigate whether there is a problem here. Who is that third party?” said Ahmed Mumin, executive director of the Seattle Rideshare Drivers Association.
Mumin says he is skeptical about the way the people are verified and the trustworthiness of the third-party source.
“The problem is that some people use false IDs and false information. So what if the person is not who they say they are,” Mumin added.
After several attacks on ride-sharing drivers last year, safety is a top priority for Moomin.
Since 2020, at least six rideshare drivers have died in the Seattle area:
December 2020: Cherno Ceesay was stabbed to death in Issaquah
September 2022: Mohamed Kediye was killed while driving in the Denny Triangle neighborhood not far from Amazon headquarters
January 2023: Mohamadou Kabba was shot in Renton
August 2023: Amare Geda was shot while working in SoDo
January 2024: Abdikadir Sharif Gedi was shot by a pedestrian while driving in Edmonds
January 2024: Nicholas Hokema was found dead in the parking lot of Southcenter Mall
“It’s scary. It’s a scary world and I just feel like it’s getting scarier. I’m like, oh my God, people are so crazy,” said driver Kensy Orantes.
Orantes used to call Lyfts quite a bit, but says this kind of violence made her think.
She believes that any form of verification is better.
“I’ve also heard horror stories where passengers have gotten on and crazy people have hit their Uber drivers, so I understand they have their own concerns as well. I think it will definitely help make both sides feel safer,” Orantes said.
Lyft says it will work fine for most riders. Most will be passively verified and won’t need to take any additional steps.
Drivers who are not automatically verified will be asked to upload an official ID, such as a driver’s license.
Under the pilot program, drivers can see a rider’s name, verification status, rating and profile photo before accepting a request.
According to a press release, the company will test the program in nine cities: Seattle, Detroit, Jacksonville, Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, Chicago, Denver and Miami.
