We’ve reported on numerous stories of Lyft or Uber drivers having to defend themselves with a gun even though both companies have a strict “no weapons” policy. Unfortunately, this driver didn’t have a way to defend himself.
A Missouri Lyft driver was driving a female passenger this past Sunday. At some point, she told him he had a gun and to pull over in an attempt to steal the car. After throwing his phone out of the window, the two got into a scuffle and the woman bit the man’s ear, taking a chunk out of it.
She then pushed the man out of the car and took off in his car. She later crashed the car and fled the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital to have his wounded ear treated.
A Lyft representative made a statement about the incident:
“Safety is fundamental to Lyft, and the incident described is deeply concerning,” a Lyft spokesperson said in a statement to McClatchy News. “We’ve been in touch with the driver to offer our support and have permanently removed the rider account from the Lyft community. We are working with law enforcement to help keep drivers safe while also exploring ways to expand the use of certain safety features and alerts to help prevent these kinds of incidents moving forward.”
Lyft said the company is working to prevent carjacking by taking action on accounts that show high-risk behavior, such as those who use “anonymous payment methods.” The company also offers an emergency help feature with ADT security, which will alert emergency responders if a user does not feel safe, along with 24/7 safety support.
The ride-sharing app says it also has a “Smart Trip Check-in,” which triggers an alert to Lyft if, for example, a ride stops for an unusual amount of time.
They are all about the safety of their drivers and passengers. But they don’t allow law-abiding citizens to carry guns that they are legally allowed to carry while driving or being a passenger in one of their cars. That just doesn’t make sense.
Read the original story: Lyft Driver Gets Ear Bitten Off and Car Stolen; Meanwhile Lyft Has a Strict “No Weapons” Policy
