by Gabrielle DeSantis

Demolition derbies have existed in the United States for decades. These vents involve drivers crashing cars into one another until there’s only one left. This motorsport is somewhat niche these days, but it has devoted fans who attend derbies at county fairs and the like.

A common question when it comes to demolition derbies is whether they have any rules. Read on to find out the history of demolition derbies, their rules, and dangerous incidents that have resulted in severe injuries.

A brief history of the demolition derby

The history of demolition derbies is debated, and documentation is limited. According to the Demolition Derby League, Larry Mendelsohn is usually considered the founder of the sport. He held a demolition derby in Long Island, New York. But because the term was used before Mendelsohn’s event, the true founder must have come before him.

Don Basile held one in 1946, although some call his event more of a race than a demolition derby. Some records state the motorsport might have existed since the Great Depression.

However murky its origins may be, the demolition derby became the most popular in the ’70s and beyond, gaining mainstream appeal. These events still exist today. They are most popular in rural areas and are usually featured at county fairs.  Although they are less popular today than they used to be, their legacy endures.

Are there rules in demolition derbies?

Because demolition derbies are often local events, there is no official rule set that all of them use. Instead, each event is subject to its own rules. But some general guidelines carry across derbies. Many of the regulations are for driver safety.

For example, 5 Flags Speedway lists in its rules as follows: “All doors must be chained, welded, or wired closed to prevent from opening during the Derby. Metal straps can be welded to the door seams with a 3 in. wide x 1/8 thick max.”

That rule is mainly in place for the driver’s sake. If the doors open, the other vehicle has direct access to the driver and could severely injure them. In addition, drivers are required to wear DOT-certified helmets, offering further protection.

Dangerous incidents at these events

Despite rules designed for safety, demolition derbies can be incredibly dangerous for drivers and spectators. According to the Daily Mail, a 2019 derby accident killed a 36-year-old woman and injured seven others. One of the inured was a 1-year-old. A driver’s vehicle had a mechanical issue, causing the braking and steering mechanisms to malfunction. Once the driver accelerated, the car wouldn’t stop, leading to the accident.

According to Fox 13 News, another crash killed a 50-year-old man in Millard County, Utah. He had judged the event, and an accident caused a car to fly through the air and hit him directly. He died on impact. This was the county’s 40th-annual festival, and nothing of this severity had happened in the past.

Some incidents have even occurred this year. According to WFMZ News, a driver in Plainfield, Pennsylvania, was in his vehicle when the gas tank burst, soaking him and the car in fuel. It suddenly ignited, resulting in severe burns.

Though incidents such as these don’t show up in the news often, they illustrate the sport’s dangers nonetheless.

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The post What Are the Rules for a Demolition Derby? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

For a while, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft were surging. Pre-pandemic, they were the up-and-coming alternative to busses and taxis or using your own car. Calling a ride was as simple as an app on your phone, and Uber and Lyft drew both consumers and drivers. It was an easy way for consumers to get around, and for drivers, it was a great way to get some extra money or even make a career out of it. However, since the pandemic, ridesharing companies have been facing some trouble with financing.

The pandemic affected Uber’s bottom line

As pandemic-related restrictions increased and people started staying home rather than going out or traveling, Uber struggled. The Wall Street Journal says that Uber posted consecutive losses for the third quarter in a row. While rides are still down and are still well below what they were pre-pandemic, Uber saw the light at the end of the tunnel. They were only down 53%, as opposed to the 75% of the quarter before. 

This translates into monetary losses. Uber has seen some rebound of late but is still struggling. Uber moved into food delivery, hoping to offset the losses, but the uptick in delivery hasn’t surpassed the downturn in ridesharing. Net losses for the company surpass $1 billion. In the last year, Uber has lost nearly a quarter of its staff, not including drivers. Still, the company is trying to regroup.

Uber emailed its customers

Uber emailed customers on April 12, 2021. The email read, “We’re always working to improve your Uber experience: We’ve invested in a $250 million driver stimulus to help more drivers get back on the road to get you where you’re going. Thanks for being patient with us! As cities have begun to reopen, we know we haven’t always been able to match you with a driver as quickly as expected. But more drivers are now back on the road and ready to get you wherever you’re going. We hope you’ll give us another try.”

During the pandemic, with little to no work, rideshare companies lost many of their drivers. As pandemic restrictions eased, people started going out again, but Uber didn’t have enough drivers to meet demand. As a result, wait times were higher than customers wanted, or rides were just unavailable. For a company trying to overturn a billion-dollar loss, losing customers when they were ready for an upswing in business would be a death knell. 

According to Uber itself, they have launched a $250 million program to get drivers back on the road. Even before giving stimulus money to drivers, Uber claims that they can make between $25 and $35 an hour. The stimulus, it says, will give both current and new drivers incentives and boosts to already high earnings.

Drivers have their own opinions

According to The Guardian, drivers are saying just the opposite. Even though Uber is seeing some gains and has stated that they are investing in their drivers, many drivers see lower pay than ever. Some reasons for this include lower minimum pay for long-distance trips. There have also been no living wage increases or compensation for rising gas prices. 

Drivers say that Uber’s bonuses are unattainable, and they are no longer getting as much of the fares as they used to. The company is now taking more of a percentage of the fares to pay for other compensation, even though customers’ fares are rising. Some drivers have even reported being charged for rides and, because fares are higher than ever, drivers report getting less in tips.

Uber and Lyft will have to address these issues to pull themselves out of the pandemic slump.

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