DRIVEN

Recently, we chatted with one of our more experienced drivers, Abdlrasaq Lawal in Jacksonville, Florida.

After retiring from the Jacksonville Transit Authority as a professional driver, Lawal realized his work wasn’t done and wanted to do more.

“I’m not supposed to sit back,” he said. “I wanted to give back to my community and driving is my hobby.”

Lawal chose UZURV because of the flexible hours. He could choose the rides he wanted, and he had a passion for providing transportation to special needs people in Jacksonville.

That was three years ago. He’s been driving ever since.

Working with UZURV is more than just being on the road. It’s also becoming acquainted with your riders – their needs and their personalities.

“For most of my rides, I know the riders and they know me,” Lawal said. “That makes it easy.”

But now and then, Lawal gets riders he doesn’t know. That’s when his years of experience as a driver helps.

“They need my service, so I learn how to work with a particular rider,” Lawal explained. “I know I can handle them.”

Lawal’s advice to new Drivers

Lawal wrapped up our conversation with some sound advice for new UZURV drivers.

“UZURV provides reliable transportation to all people, including those who are not able to use public transportation,” he said. “So my responsibility, before I pick up anyone, is safety.”

Lawal’s experience not only informs the way he handles riders – it also helps him manage his vehicle on the road.

“You want to know why I’m a good driver?” he asked. “I know ​​I can’t control the car in front of me. I can’t control the car behind me. I can’t control the car to the right and to the left. The only thing I can control is the wheel in front of me,” he continued.

“It is the driver’s responsibility to pay attention to what is going on around them. It’s a common-sense job if someone knows what they are doing,” Lawal went on to say.

“It’s easy and I have fun doing it.”

What a great philosophy to pass along to our new drivers, Lawal!

Achieving driving excellence takes time and practice. Here’s a quick checklist to make sure you are safe and taking care of your riders.

☑️  Provide door-to-door service for every ride.
☑️  Do not use your phone while driving.
☑️  Accept all service animals – it’s the law.
☑️  Don’t share your Rider’s personal information.
☑️  Keep the interior and exterior of your vehicle clean and uncluttered.
☑️  No smoking or vaping in your vehicle.
☑️  Seat Riders in the back seat for safety. Only seat a Rider in the front if a health condition or disability makes it difficult to sit in the back.
☑️  If an accident occurs, ensure you and your Riders are safe. Then, dial 911 and contact UZURV Operations through your app.

👀  Always pay attention to what’s going on around you  👀