Mr. Steinberg writes about cyber security issues and he is concerned about the public safety issues raised by the e hail apps we are considering legalizing and promoting. I urge all Commissioners to look up this article and read it. If Joseph Steinberg was able to enroll as a Hailo taxi driver and locate isolated people who are looking for transportation it represents a gap in the developers thought process and an oversight error on your part.
Mr. Steinberg also is concerned about the issue of distracted driving. This concern has not been addressed by the Commission.
On August first of this year the Guardian onine published an article i wrote that challenges you and journalists to delve into the impact the ehail driver apps have on the drivers themselves frankly turning them into distracted drivers and public safety menaces.
You have not given this issue sufficient attention and in keeping with the most basic concepts of civic responsibility you must do so before you authorize even one more Hailo or Uber trip. I am urging that you suspend this entire process until such time as you can honestly and with full confidence tell the public that it has nothing to fear from the driver app or the drivers who are using them..
I am a sixty-seven year old veteran of over 23 years of taxi driving. I held a responsible position with the Municipal government for over ten years during which time I frequently testified in court under oath on behalf of the people of New York.
I drove for sever days as a Hailo driver and i am telling you in no uncertain terms that no one can be a successful Hailo driver without violating TLC rules regarding public safety and distracted driving nor can this driver app and its functions comport with common sense. Second hand information leads me to believe that the Uber driver app presents similar hazards
I have written about the matter in the Guardian on line newspaper at