I will never get this as a non parent

[Colleen27]

My kids can get in my phone. They had their own phones at that age. I'm not sure I understand what it is they need to be protected from.

No kidding. All three of my kids know the code to unlock my phone, because they've all used it so many times. I don't have the code there to keep them out; I have it there to buy me some time to remotely factory reset it should it ever be lost or stolen.

 

[tzolkin]

Just because something is conceivable doesn't mean it's probable or plausible. And just because people mistake peoples ages all the time does not mean they mistake 12 year old kids for adults all the time. Yes, people mistake the age of people with 5 decades under their belt by sometimes big margins. But people don't mistake someone with little more than a decade under their belts for adults.

I never said it happens "all the time". My comments were in response to your post that there was "no chance". I was simply stating that it was possible. And therefore, drivers should ask if the customer appears to be anywhere close to the age cutoff.

I really don't understand why you believe so strongly that could not happen. People do (at least occasionally) mistake 12-13 year olds for young adults. I have experienced it numerous times and know plenty of others who also have. Just this Tuesday my son was asked in my presence if he was a graduating senior (he just turned 13 two weeks ago). When we first moved here my older daughter was mistaken for my husband's wife on more than one occasion (she was 14). It really doesn't seem so impossible to me for someone to mistake a girl who was about to turn 13 for an 18 year old. That's not a huge leap.

But it was nighttime, dark, and she doesn’t look like a young looking 12 year old. Actually, she looks the same age as my 18 year old.

This is a picture of the girl from last year (so she was younger than when the driver picked her up). I would say that she could appear to be anywhere between 10 and 20 depending on clothing, behavior, etc.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

This is a picture of the girl from last year (so she was younger than when the driver picked her up). I would say that she could appear to be anywhere between 10 and 20 depending on clothing, behavior, etc.
View attachment 407105

Ummmmmmm, which one is the girl? I assume the one in the back? Even then, I would not say she was 11 in that picture. Then again, I'm really bad at assessing ages.

 

[piccolopat]

Not if they have a history of allowing drivers to do this without any repercussions.

Uber's policy is only company policy. It doesn't convey anything to anyone or obligate them to enforce it. It's more like when a mall has a policy that doesn't let kids in before a certain time of day. If it's not enforced and a kid falls in the mall, the mall would only be liable if it did or didn't do something that actually caused the fall (like didn't clean up a wet floor), not the fact that the kid was simply in the mall. So if they were pushed or tripped by their friend while they were fooling around, would you blame the mall for their injuries?

 

[elaine amj]

I never said it happens "all the time". My comments were in response to your post that there was "no chance". I was simply stating that it was possible. And therefore, drivers should ask if the customer appears to be anywhere close to the age cutoff.

I really don't understand why you believe so strongly that could not happen. People do (at least occasionally) mistake 12-13 year olds for young adults. I have experienced it numerous times and know plenty of others who also have. Just this Tuesday my son was asked in my presence if he was a graduating senior (he just turned 13 two weeks ago). When we first moved here my older daughter was mistaken for my husband's wife on more than one occasion (she was 14). It really doesn't seem so impossible to me for someone to mistake a girl who was about to turn 13 for an 18 year old. That's not a huge leap.


This is a picture of the girl from last year (so she was younger than when the driver picked her up). I would say that she could appear to be anywhere between 10 and 20 depending on clothing, behavior, etc.
View attachment 407105

I am terrible at assessing ages - looking at her when she was 11, I would have guessed 15-18. And distraught people tend to look older.

I am actually surprised uber has an 18+ policy. I assume taxis don't? I remember taking taxis to school in my teens and now I tell my kids if they are stuck that they can hop in a cab/uber. Learned something new

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

But it was nighttime, dark, and she doesn’t look like a young looking 12 year old. Actually, she looks the same age as my 18 year old. I doubt many kids are calling for Uber’s at that time in that location. I don’t blame the parents for 5he lawsuits, I’m guessing lawyers contacted them, and honestly if that were my child, I know I’d want someone to blame, that’s being human.

That could be a problem. But I'd like to inform you about a new invention I just made to solve it. It's going to hit every new model of car to come along and it is so awesome you're going to want to buy a new car. It's this thing that you can push a button and it lights up the car so you can see your passengers. Isn't that cool? I'M RICH!! I'M RICH!!! I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND. Oh wait. My spouse says they already have them and it's called a dome light. Shoot. (Sigh) Oh well. Yet another time I reinvented something we already have.... Hey!! That just might make me the next Elon Musk!!!

 

[Hikergirl]

Is it against the law for someone under 18 to use uber or is it just against their policy?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I never said it happens "all the time".

And I didn't say there was no chance. I said there was no chance other than never say never. And there isn't.

I really don't understand why you believe so strongly that could not happen. People do (at least occasionally) mistake 12-13 year olds for young adults. I have experienced it numerous times and know plenty of others who also have. Just this Tuesday my son was asked in my presence if he was a graduating senior (he just turned 13 two weeks ago). When we first moved here my older daughter was mistaken for my husband's wife on more than one occasion (she was 14). It really doesn't seem so impossible to me for someone to mistake a girl who was about to turn 13 for an 18 year old. That's not a huge leap.


This is a picture of the girl from last year (so she was younger than when the driver picked her up). I would say that she could appear to be anywhere between 10 and 20 depending on clothing, behavior, etc.
View attachment 407105

Looking at what is for me a one inch by one inch picture is vastly different than real life full sized. That driver was either too preoccupied to make that call or didn't care enough to bother.

 

[mjkacmom]

Is it against the law for someone under 18 to use uber or is it just against their policy?

I think it’s their policy, not a law.

 

[Hikergirl]

I think it’s their policy, not a law.

That is what I figured. I feel incredibly sad for these parents and I understand they are working through their grief, but Uber isn't to blame at all.

 

[cinnaminny]

Uber's policy is only company policy. It doesn't convey anything to anyone or obligate them to enforce it. It's more like when a mall has a policy that doesn't let kids in before a certain time of day. If it's not enforced and a kid falls in the mall, the mall would only be liable if it did or didn't do something that actually caused the fall (like didn't clean up a wet floor), not the fact that the kid was simply in the mall. So if they were pushed or tripped by their friend while they were fooling around, would you blame the mall for their injuries?

It don’t think it’s their “fault”. It’s more like admitting you knew something was wrong and then did it anyway. She would have done this regardless. But they left themselves wide open to being sued for partial liability. If they weren’t going to enforce it, they should have not added it to their policy.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And therefore, drivers should ask if the customer appears to be anywhere close to the age cutoff.

Easy enough to avoid. "Yes, I'm 18 but no, I don't have an ID."

Just this Tuesday my son was asked in my presence if he was a graduating senior (he just turned 13 two weeks ago)

My 13 year old bearded brother almost got served (Dad: "I'll have a ____"; kid brother "oh, I'll have the same") in a restaurant when the drinking age here was 18. My 18 year old brother got carded at the same meal.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Easy enough to avoid. "Yes, I'm 18 but no, I don't have an ID."

My 13 year old bearded brother almost got served (Dad: "I'll have a ____"; kid brother "oh, I'll have the same") in a restaurant when the drinking age here was 18. My 18 year old brother got carded at the same meal.

I don't know what country you live in but were I am from it's easy to get a Id/license

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't know what country you live in but were I am from it's easy to get a Id/license

Ease isn't my point. "Do you have an ID?" " No."

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Ease isn't my point. "Do you have an ID?" " No."

I get your point now sorry I missed it earlier

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So last night my husband took an Uber to LAX to catch his flight home. The drive was long enough that he got to chit chatting with the Uber driver. That driver was talking to him about crazy stories he had. The craziest one was a mom who was going clubbing for the night and put her baby (who was in a carseat) in the Uber and was going to have the Uber driver take the baby to her ex-husband all without her being in the car. Thankfully that Uber driver said he promptly cancelled the Uber and advised no one under 18 is allowed per company policy without being accompanied by someone 18 or older.

I don't think Uber is legally liable here (personal opinion not law opinion) because the girl for could have gotten to a garage and done the same thing even if it wasn't that specific one but what I do see is parents suing Uber and then settling and then Uber attempting to take action against the Uber driver for failure in complying with such policy.

If anything what it shows, especially based off of the many posts we see on the DIS with parents allowing their kids to take Uber is that Uber has an issue with how to enforce a policy regarding the transportation of minors. It is possible a lawsuit, amid all the other issues Uber has had, could prompt a better way of enforcement of such policy. It's a smart policy to have but ineffective if there's a subset of drivers who disregard it especially if it's a norm to do so.

 

[tcufrog]

I may not be able to tell someone is exactly 12 by looking at them. I might even mistake them for 15-16. But there is no chance (other than never say never) that I'd mistake a 12 year old girl for an adult.

My sister went through puberty early and really fast. By the time she was 12, she was more than 5'5", wore a size B bra, and had a womanly figure. I'm 3 years younger than her and when she was in 7th grade someone thought she was my mom. She hated it. DS12 is going through something similar. He's 5' 4" and already has a mustache, a deep voice, and body hair. People already think he's at least a few years older than he is. If he was that far along in puberty as a girl, it would be worse.

 

[Princessclab]

Oh a snarky response. You’ve missed the point. She would have found a way. Uber or Lyft or any other car service. But I’ll let you live in your bubble.

My response intent was not meant to be a 'snark'. Your post came across like you did not understand what I was saying, my perception. My apologies.
My main point was that children are allowed to do adult things and make adult decisions which may or may not have consequences. The parents job is to protect your children, even from themselves. This is a good example of a thing that can go wrong. For example, do your children use your credit card regularly and drive your car by themselves around? Adult things which most parents do not let their children do.
Many times children believe they are capable in making a decision but really aren't mature enough or have the capability to make such a decision. At 12 years old this poor child was still a child, not even a teenager.
Where do you draw the line on letting your children do adult things (rhetorical question)?
No living in a bubble here, I could indicate the same thoughts to you.
May your children always be safe.

 

[msjprincess]

@Princessclab I still don't understand what you mean. A phone is an "adult thing"? Are you saying a 12 year old is too young to have access to a parent's phone or they shouldn't have access to a phone at all?

 

[PollyannaMom]

What a sad story. We have got to fix some things in our society if 12-year-olds are resorting to suicide.

Just because something is conceivable doesn't mean it's probable or plausible. And just because people mistake peoples ages all the time does not mean they mistake 12 year old kids for adults all the time...

I don't think it's really all that far fetched. The girls in the photo above both look older than 12 to me, and there was a recent sad case on my local news that showed two photos of a 13-year-old. In one, she was clearly a young kid, in the other, she looked like a completely different person, and much older. If the girl was really intent on her plan, she could easily have made herself look 18.

...Maybe Uber could add an opt-in, where parents have to sign something in the app giving Uber permission to transport their kids and waiving liability? I know it could still be forged, but I would think it would still absolve Uber from responsibility.

I actually think this is the best idea. Strengthen and start enforcing the policy in general, but provide a legal opt-out for those who request it. Then Uber avoids situations like this, while still providing a service in the case of parents who actually want it.