Uber Under Scrutiny as Driver Falls Asleep

Uber are under pressure to better regulate driving shift hours, after a driver fell asleep at the wheel and left a woman with whiplash and severe concussion.

Pilates Instructor Emma Davey was travelling to a training course when the Uber cab she was travelling in crashed and flipped onto its side.

After being rescued from the vehicle, Ms Davey was taken to Tooting hospital, where she was diagnosed with concussion and whiplash so severe she was left unable to work for over a month.

“I noticed his driving was a little odd, there was a lot of swerving and people started beeping at him.” Said Ms Davey. “I was keeping an eye on him as I felt he was falling asleep at the wheel. The next thing I know, there are two men shouting at me from outside the car asking if I can get out. I was in tears and in a huge state of shock."

Ms Davey’s whiplash was so bad that doctors signed her off work for a longer period than she ended up taking, as she could not afford to take further time off.

“I’m just so annoyed that my life was put at risk by a driver who is probably doing stupid hours. There needs to be better regulation. There has to be a cap on the number of hours they can do at any one time. Uber needs to put something in place.”

Uber drivers tackle millions of journeys across London each month and, despite all drivers being self-employed, the company maintains that driver hours are strictly monitored to ensure their drivers are fit for duty.

According to a spokesman for the Met police, no further action was taken against the driver after officers questioned him at the scene.

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