That can occur, as a driver, I only start the ride once I know for sure who is the rider is and he is getting inside my car, . Besides, how much more money can I earn if I pre start the trip, drivers get about .75 per mile and much less than that per time. This 5 minute or so rider may have potentially earned the driver a little over a dollar, Lyft may have charged you almost $2.00 or so. In the end, once a driver receives too many complaints of a similar nature he risk deactivation.