Uber taken for a ride

Driver: Unaccompanied kids regular passengers

GOLD Coast Uber drivers admit flouting rules not to pick up unaccompanied children as time-poor parents keep using the ride-share app for school pick-ups and drop offs.

Drivers on the Gold Coast said they regularly transported kids as young as eight without parents or guardians despite an Uber guideline advising against it.

Uber’s own guidelines require users to be 18 years and over.

One driver said yesterday he transported children unaccompanied at least twice a week, mostly for school runs.

“It’s becoming more of a common practice I think because more parents work and the kids have to get to school somehow,” the driver said.

“From eight or nine years old, up to around 14 or 15, sometimes I’m dropping off three kids (siblings) at different schools.

“There are thousands of Uber drivers on the Coast, they’d be doing the same,” he said, adding he was not aware of Uber’s age policy.

Surfers Paradise MP JohnPaul Langbroek in 2016 raised the “significant safety issue” of kids using ride-shares unaccompanied – yesterday he said he was disturbed it was still happening.

“It’s greatly concerning three years after concerns were raised about the safety of children using Uber unaccompanied, it has continued to take place,” he said.

Drivers are not given details about passengers until they arrive though occasionally receive instructions from parents through the online app.

Drivers are also able to reject a job if they wish, potentially dumping a vulnerable child unattended by the side of the road.

But despite concerns the driver said he felt the service was safe for kids.

“We haven’t had any problems on the Gold Coast that I’m aware of. I know the city has problems with it but here on the Gold Coast I think it’s okay,” he said. “When you go for Uber licences they do police checks on you.”

An Uber spokeswoman said the company’s terms and conditions had always been clear passengers must be 18 and over.

“If your child is using your account, a parent or guardian must be with them at all times,” the spokeswoman said.

Uber guidelines state: “As a driver-partner in a city that doesn’t allow minors to ride, you should decline the ride request if you believe the person requesting the ride is under 18. If a rider is underage, please do not start the trip or allow them to ride.”

Drivers are told to demand ID if unsure of someone’s age.