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Safety questions raised over new ‘Uber for kids' driving service

By Mark Barber
By Mark Barber

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new driving service that's billed as “Uber for kids” is now in Charlotte.

The owner of the company, which is called GoKart, told Channel 9 some parents are already booking drivers to take their children to after-school activities when school starts in August.

The driving service is for kids between 6 and 17 years old.

While some busy parents said they'd use it to run their kids to games and appointments, others said they'd be too worried about who's behind the wheel.

"A child that's 6 years old? It wouldn't matter to me what the vetting process is. It just wouldn't be an idea that's acceptable to me," said Antoine Ford, a father of two.

While Ford wouldn't let the driving service pick up his children, other parents are signing up.

"I can understand someone doing that. As a matter of fact, I had a family member who thought about doing that," mother Ashley Ford said.

The driving service launched in Raleigh in 2016 and took off in Charlotte a couple of weeks ago.

Men and women can drive for the service but first they have to clear their interview with Stacy Shannon, the owner of the company.

The mother of three said drivers have to have five years of child care experience and clear a thorough seven-year federal and multijurisdictional background check.

"If they've sneezed I have seen it on their background checks," Shannon said.

When Channel 9 asked Shannon if she's doing anything to protect children from predators who might slip through the cracks, she said she's planning to install cameras and tracking devices in each car.

"My measuring stick is, ‘Is this someone who I would trust with, my own children?’ and the answer is yes, absolutely yes with every single one that I choose," she said.

Still, some parents, such as Ashley Ford are skeptical.

"I don't have time to take a risk with that. So many kids get hurt," Ford said.

Shannon told Channel 9 she hasn't heard any concerns about her drivers since they launched in Raleigh in September.

Right now, she has five drivers in Charlotte but she hopes to hire 10 more before school starts in August.

[LINK: GoKart information and how to book a driver]

On the website, parents can read a description of the drivers who work for the company. Many of them are teachers and school bus drivers.

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