The latest news buzz is all about Uber and Lyft suspending their ride sharing business in Austin, Texas because they want to regulate their own drivers. While the new city ordinance requires companies like Uber and Lyft to be regulated like taxis. That means, among other things, drivers would have to be fingerprinted as part of a background check. According to a report by NPR, last year, Uber and Lyft withdrew from San Antonio over a similar requirement that drivers be fingerprinted. The companies returned months later under a program that made fingerprinting voluntary. Meanwhile, Houston also has rules requiring drivers for ride-hailing apps to be fingerprinted. Uber has previously threatened to withdraw from Houston over that ordinance. According to Culturemap Houston, the city’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, responded, “If it comes down to public safety on one hand and Uber staying on the other, I don’t think it is even close.” Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles are considering similar regulations on ride-hailing apps, according to The Associated Press.

So, although independent drivers may not be as stringently regulated as cab drivers, it still worries me that they may not be available in such a large “party city” like Austin. With 6th street all abuzz, South By Southwest (SXSW), Austin City Limits (ACL) and many other annual festivals where people come from all over the world to attend, and drinking is a part of that experience, for most, it is disturbing that more people will be likely to drink and drive. Although cabs will still be available, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) claims that Uber, for one, is saving lives because it is an easy app to manipulate when impaired. The app retains your credit card information, so no money is exchanged with the driver, and the tip is already rolled into the fare. It retains your home address and GPS will let the driver know where you are when requesting a ride. Accidents and DWI related fatalities will likely be at staggering (no pun intended) all time highs (again, no pun intended).

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Ridesharing – Comedy Defensive Driving

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSA) suggests changes to ramps, including sensors that detect wrong way drivers and adding new signs or even lowering “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs. If lowered, the signs will be more visible in their headlights at night. California has used lower signs since the 1970’s. Arizona, Virginia, Ohio and Florida have since lowered their signs. Some states resist lowering signs because they could cause injuries if the wrong way driver crashes into them. Also, snow can pile up and cover them. But, what’s worse? The wrong way driver crashing into the sign, or having them enter the wrong way and crashing into other drivers?
So, remember, at night, stay right. Not a bad habit to get into so you don’t become a statistic in next week’s news.
Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
At Night Stay Right – Comedy Defensive Driving

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St. Patrick’s Day is this Thursday and I’m already looking forward to the green beer, St.Pat’s parades, the green panties my cougar promised to wear (and I promise I won’t wear them…again…this year!) and all the festivities that goes along with eventually puking up that green beer later that night when my bed will surely be transformed into the “wheel…of….fortune!!!”(the spinning effect you get when your head first hits the pillow!)

And the only thing worse that a drunken, mad, creepy Leprechaun, is a drunk driver ruining people’s holiday and possibly their lives!Come on, everybody knows drinking and driving is dangerous and you can kill someone, so why do we still have a-holes who still think they can drive after having several drinks????!!!!!

Here’s the plan and it’s so simple even a drunken Irish person could figure it out!Have a designated driver, how much can a person have to drink and still be the D.D.?…..NONE, you kung-fu-king stupid hooligan!!!!!!!Plan to spend the night over at the party, that way it gives you an excuse to be a hoer.(by the way, I’m available for children’s  birthday parties)Call a taxi and take up the keys before they start drinking!!!

Have fun this St. Patrick’s Day but just be safe when you are partying, that’s all I’m saying!I hope you have a safe and fun time this Thursday and please, PLEASE, don’t drink and drive because it just wouldn’t be the same without you!

Join me again next week and until then….

Take care and be safe-

Danny Keaton

Stand up comedian and writer

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