Uber wants more senior drivers on the road in Australia

Even when you're a fully-fledged adult, you sometimes just wish your mum or dad would pick you up from whichever awful party you find yourself at on Saturday night. If a new initiative from Uber goes to plan, you could be in luck.

The rideshare company is partnering with Seniors Card NSW, a New South Wales government scheme that aims to support people over the age of 60 in retirement. Announced Tuesday, the deal will give the scheme's more than 1.4 million Senior Card members A$20 off their first Uber ride, but also aims to get them behind the wheel.

Information sessions, the dates of which haven't yet been announced, will help seniors get to know the service, both as riders and potential driver-partners. An Uber spokesperson told Mashable Australia he could not share how many senior drivers currently worked with the service in Australia, but said that in the U.S., 23 percent were older than 50 years old.

The NSW government, for one, is all for it. "It will provide an affordable and reliable transport option, as well as raising awareness of the opportunity for them to become driver partners with Uber and re-enter the workforce on a schedule that suits them," John Ajaka, NSW minister of ageing and disability services, said in an emailed statement.

While most senior drivers are probably more careful than hooning 20-year-olds, punters may be concerned Uber and the government are encouraging people to stay on the road when they shouldn't be. 

"NSW crash data shows that older drivers are over-represented in casualty crashes," a Transport for NSW spokesperson told Mashable Australia. "While there was an 18 per cent reduction in the number of all drivers involved in casualty crashes over the five year period 2010 to 2014, there were increases in the number of older drivers involved in these crashes.

"There was an eight per cent increase for drivers aged 75+ and 33 per cent increase for drivers aged 85+."

The Uber spokesperson confirmed drivers would not have to pass tests beyond those required by the state. "As long as they are 21 years old, hold a valid driver's licence and have a four-door car 9 years or younger, we welcome them to apply to become an UberX partner," he said. "They will need to pass the same criminal background and driving history checks as other UberX driver partners and have the same vehicle checks and requisite insurance."

For drivers over the age of 75, the Roads and Maritime authority requires a medical examination occurs each year to confirm they are fit to keep their licence. From 85 years old, seniors must also pass a practical driving assessment every two years.

The deal also seems only appropriate for seniors looking to simply top up their post-work income by driving. After all, they certainly would have to come out of retirement to live off it. Uber drivers in Sydney have previously estimated to Mashable Australia they make around A$500 in 20 hours, meaning a driver could live frugally off the earnings if they drove a 40-hour week. Uber drivers are not employees, so they do not receive sick leave or other benefits.

Riders, on the other hand, will get to feel like teenagers again.

UPDATE: April 6, 2016, 8:14 p.m. AEST Statement from Transport for NSW spokesperson.

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