Uber Drivers Rally in Baja

Uber drivers in Baja California protest compulsory ID badges and vehicle stickers, citing concerns over privacy and security amidst a growing global trend of ride-share driver safety challenges.

Uber Drivers Protest Against Mandatory ID Badges and Stickers in Baja California

Uber drivers from Mexicali, Ensenada, Rosarito, Tecate, and Tijuana gathered to protest at the company’s offices in Tijuana’s Chapultepec neighborhood. The demonstration was a response to a newly approved reform requiring drivers to display an ID badge and a vehicle sticker with their personal information to continue operating. Approved on March 13 by the Baja California State Congress’s Metropolitan Development Committee, the reform was proposed by legislator Araceli Geraldo. Under the new regulation, both Uber and DiDi drivers must wear a badge with their full name, photo, vehicle plate numbers, and registration details, visible to passengers. The vehicles must also display a sticker with similar details, accessible via a scannable QR code on the front windshield.

However, concerns have been raised over security and privacy. The QR code, containing drivers’ details, can be scanned by anyone with a smartphone. This has resulted in drivers feeling vulnerable and insecure, prompting their protest outside Uber’s offices, during which they blockaded Agua Caliente Boulevard for nearly an hour.

One driver, Andrés, voiced the collective worries: “This protest is because they want us to display a sticker with all our information. We already have a QR code sharing our details—why another one? Why do we need to expose more information, making us targets?”

While the new measures aim to enhance passenger safety, drivers argue that their safety is also at risk amid growing concerns about crime in the region.

**In Similar News: Safety Concerns Rising Among Ride-Share Drivers Across the Globe**

Similar concerns about ride-share drivers’ safety have emerged worldwide. In various cities, drivers are raising alarms over mandatory identification measures that might compromise their safety. For example, in recent months, drivers in New York City have expressed concerns about a new mandate requiring more visible identification, arguing that it increases their exposure to potential attacks.

Furthermore, ride-share companies have faced criticism for not providing adequate security measures amidst these growing safety concerns. In the UK, driver associations are lobbying for better protection policies and insurance coverage from ride-share companies to protect against threats they face on the job.

This trend underlines a challenging global issue for the industry: balancing passenger safety without compromising the safety and privacy of drivers.