State Bill Would Remove Medical-Exam Stipulation for Uber, Lyft Drivers

On April 12, a Colorado House committee will vote on a bill that would remove a stipulation that drivers for ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft get medically cleared to drive in Colorado. SB17-043 passed the Republican-controlled Senate in late January.

Currently, medical exams are performed by a driver's doctor or by medical professionals provided by Lyft and Uber. Uber charges a $50 fee, while Lyft exams are free. The exam, created by the state's Public Utilities Commission, primarily checks for limb impairment, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, hypertension, muscular and arthritic diseases, epilepsy and mental disorders. The exam also checks drivers' vision and inquires into their drug use and alcohol consumption.

Senator Owen Hill, one of the bill's sponsors, questions the thoroughness of the exams. He doubts that they make roads safer. “Are we actually safer because someone over there looked at you and said, 'Well, he's got a pulse; therefore, we're going to certify him'?” he asks. “We constantly talk about getting these regulations out of the way that don't actually create a safer environment and usually are just a bigger hurdle for people to go and earn a paycheck. We don't require this for school-bus drivers. It's not like we have a rash of dangerous school-bus drivers out on the road that are endangering dozens of kids' lives at a time. So if we don't require it for school-bus drivers, why would we have this meaningless requirement there for Uber and Lyft drivers?” (Clarification: Obtaining a Commercial Driver's License requires a medical certificate, and getting a school bus endorsement on a CDL could also require a physical.)

Jeremiah Kidanemairam, a local limousine company owner and member of the Colorado Limousine Association, would like to see the bill shot down, citing consumer safety concerns. “We at the Colorado Limo Association are against any legislation that would put the public safety at risk,” he says. “We can't believe that Lyft would lobby for a bill that would put their users and the rest of the Colorado public safety at risk. We hope that our elected state officials would do the right thing and stop this bill from passing.”

Read more: http://www.westword.com/news/colorado-legislative-bill-would-remove-medical-exam-stipulation-for-uber-lyft-drivers-8929277