Uber begins monitoring U.S. driver background checks continuously

To better protect their riders, Uber is rolling out ongoing background checks for its drivers.

According to Axios, these new ongoing background checks allow a real-time collection of background screening data data on drivers. Uber will be notified if a driver is newly charged with a criminal offense and, from there, Uber can decide if it wants to suspend a driver from its service to prevent unsafe behavior.

“Ultimately what we’re looking for… is a way to get the same kind of info as in a background check, but get it in a real-time manner,” Fuldner told Axios. Drivers can become eligible to reapply if their charges get resolved.

According to a recent report on CNN, thousands of criminals have been cleared to drive for Uber despite their significant criminal history. The report found Uber and Lyft “pushed back on government efforts to add other layers of scrutiny to the screening process” and “successfully fought off additional backgrounding requirements for drivers such as fingerprint scans or government screening” that some believe would help protect passengers.

Insufficient background checks and safety measures have been two of the key criticisms Uber has faced in their nine-year history. Despite an array of additions to their safety and screening process, time will tell whether new measures do anything to reduce that criticism and improve the safety of their users.