A practical checklist for safer, calmer, more professional journeys. This is general guidance; your local licence conditions and training take priority.
Check tyres, lights, fuel or charge, insurance, vehicle cleanliness, navigation, phone charge and emergency contacts. Keep drinking water for yourself and consider sealed bottled water for passengers. Check your licensing conditions before supplying anything.
Carry a suitable first aid kit and know where it is. Call 999 for a medical emergency. Do not diagnose passengers or hand out paracetamol, sedatives or other medication. Help with a passenger’s own prescribed medicine only within your training and applicable policy; seek emergency guidance where necessary.
Try neutral subjects such as local attractions, weather or a passenger’s preferred route. Ask once whether they prefer music or a quiet journey. Respect silence. Avoid initiating arguments about politics, religion, football rivalries or personal identity; never make sexual remarks, flirt, ask intrusive questions or make discriminatory comments.
If a passenger requests the radio off or a reasonable temperature adjustment, accommodate it when safe. Explain safety requirements calmly. Respect disability-related needs and assistance-dog obligations under applicable law.
Do not argue or confront someone suspected of wrongdoing. Drive to a safe, public place if possible, stop safely and call 999 if danger is immediate. Use Uber’s in-app safety/emergency features where available; notify Uber after immediate safety needs are addressed. Document the journey and preserve relevant evidence.
Write down the trip time, route and factual observations. Report criminal matters to police (999 emergency, 101 non-emergency), safety incidents to Uber, and safeguarding concerns to your council safeguarding team. Follow licensing authority reporting requirements.
Check the vehicle after each trip. Use Uber’s lost-item reporting and contact process; do not share private passenger details or arrange unsafe handovers. Secure valuable or sensitive items. Ask your local police force or licensing authority about their lost-property procedures; do not assume every item must be handed to police.
Read the safeguarding guide → · See good and bad conversation examples →
Official references: DfT statutory standards · DfT best practice