The proliferation of ridesharing apps have given riders a convenient way to get around without worry of traffic jams, parking spots, or complicated navigation.

However, taxi/Uber drivers endure long hours of sitting from driving people back and forth by request, which ultimately lead them to face health problems like urinary tract infections, musculoskeletal disorders, chronic pain, and even serious mental health problems.

Uber drivers usually earn money in 3 ways: fares from the trips themselves, promotions that offer extra cash, and tips from people to whom drivers give rides.

In short, the more the drivers run rides, the more money they will likely earn at the end of the day.

According to Georgetown University’s Fall 2023 magazine, half of such drivers live at or below the US federal poverty level, which means that most taxi drivers are living precarious lifestyles when depending on ridesharing for their sole stream of income

Therefore, drivers tend to overlook the correlation between their health and excessive work, attempting to stay in their car longer so that they don’t miss out on any running calls for rides.

One taxi driver based in South Korea asserted, “Of course, us taxi drivers know it is bad for us to keep ignoring the need for urination, but what else can we do but bear it? Once we realize we got the disease, it is always too late.”

Health Chosun News reported a statistic that almost 70% of surveyed taxi drivers are undergoing pain that stems from benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is a disease found in one of the male reproductive organs caused by the perineal and pelvic muscles remaining in a constant state of tension.

To minimize the probability of taxi drivers developing diseases, the Korea Industrial Safety Association proposed a poster that indicates how to self-examine the symptoms of the disease and how to avoid getting it in the first place.

Taxi drivers not only go through physical pains, but also mental health issues from a wide range of causes. One of the reasons is the many incidents involving customer violence towards drivers that have been reported at an increasing rate.

Georgetown University’s Fall 2023 magazine states that 30 percent of drivers reported safety concerns and physical assaults against them.

Recently, in June 2023, a taxi driver was attacked on his face and wrist by a drunk passenger while driving in Seoul, South Korea.

It was reported that there were no measures or minimal safety gear inside the taxi for taxi drivers to protect themselves in such emergencies.

According to YTN news, the Driver Violence Incident rate has gone up by almost 80% over the course of 4 years, showing how desperate our society needs to stand up for the rights of taxi drivers.

To minimize the crime rate and to avoid the spread of COVID-19 recently, some countries implemented a transparent perspex shield that covers the driver’s seat for drivers’ protection.

Seohyun Oh

Grade 12

Dana Hall School