Turo CEO: Why Background Checks Can't Stop Violence

Introduction

Turo, a popular peer-to-peer car-sharing platform, is facing intense scrutiny after two violent incidents involving rented vehicles. In one case, a military veteran used a Ford F-150 Lightning to drive into a crowd, killing at least 15 people. In another, a Green Beret used a Tesla Cybertruck to blow up the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, before taking his own life.

Turo’s CEO, Andre Haddad, expressed his outrage, stating that these individuals exploited the platform despite the company’s strict safety measures. But the question remains: How could Turo, or any platform like it, prevent such events?

Turo’s Safety Measures: How Did They Fail?

Turo uses a sophisticated Risk Score system, drawing from 50+ data sources, to evaluate the safety of renters. Despite this, the perpetrators had clean criminal records and valid driver’s licenses, which raised a critical concern: Can background checks really prevent violent crimes?

Turo’s CEO points out that even with thorough screening, these individuals would have passed traditional checks. In fact, both were U.S. military veterans who could easily rent vehicles from any traditional company like Hertz or Enterprise without raising any red flags.

The Limitations of Background Checks

Even with advanced algorithms and thorough background checks, sometimes the most dangerous individuals appear perfectly normal on paper. The two individuals in question were well-qualified and had no criminal history, making them hard to identify as potential threats.

Over the years, Turo has been involved in several incidents where cars rented on its platform were misused for illegal activities, including human trafficking and drug smuggling. Many hosts have shared concerns on Reddit about renting to people with shady pasts.

What is Turo Doing to Improve Safety?

To prevent future incidents, Turo is taking several steps:

Improving its Risk Score algorithm.
Hiring experts in law enforcement and counterterrorism.
Consulting with national security experts to enhance safety measures.

Despite the tragedy, Turo maintains that incidents like these are extremely rare, with less than 0.10% of 27 million trips resulting in serious issues.

Conclusion: Can Background Checks Alone Prevent Tragedies?

Turo is working hard to improve its safety measures, but these recent events highlight a tough reality: no background check or algorithm can guarantee complete safety. The company is committed to refining its processes to better detect risks and prevent future misuse.

However, platforms like Turo must continually adapt and collaborate with experts in law enforcement to mitigate these risks. With ongoing improvements, Turo hopes to remain a safe and trusted platform for all users.