Black Rideshare Drivers Stopped More Than Whites

#police

Studies show that Black ride-share drivers are stopped more often than white drivers, and this is not explained by differences in driving behavior. Research indicates that minority ride-share drivers are 24% to 33% more likely to be cited for speeding by police compared to white drivers, even though their actual driving behavior is similar.

The studies attribute these disparities to policing bias, noting that minority drivers are more likely to be stopped and searched even when they have lower rates of contraband. source

No behavioral differences:

Studies analyzing high-frequency GPS data have found no discernible differences in speeding behavior or other traffic violations between minority and white drivers, suggesting that bias is the driving factor. source

Bias in enforcement:

Minority drivers receive citations at higher rates and face higher fines, even when their driving behavior is similar to that of white drivers. This suggests that policing bias, rather than driver behavior, is the cause of the disparity. source

Higher traffic citation rates: A study published in Science in March 2025 analyzed GPS data from over 200,000 Lyft drivers in Florida from 2017 to 2020. It found that Black and other minority drivers were 24–33% more likely to be cited for speeding compared to white drivers, despite driving at identical speeds. source

Higher fines: In the same Florida study, fines issued to minority drivers were found to be 23–34% higher on average than fines given to white drivers.

No difference in driving behavior: The researchers concluded that the disparities were the result of policing bias, not differences in driving or accident rates. The study's editor noted that the results "unequivocally reveal bias". source

More searches, less contraband: This same study found that when stopped, Black drivers were searched up to twice as often as white drivers, even though they were less likely to be found carrying illegal contraband. source

Bias is the cause: Researchers attribute these disparities to "animus or prejudice against minority drivers" rather than factors like accident or re-offense rates.

Data limitations: These studies rely on proprietary data from rideshare companies and administrative data from law enforcement, which may not capture all forms of bias. source