In Germany at least it's less about safety and more about keeping competition at bay. Operating a taxi requires you to buy a "token" on the black market for around USD 50.000 and by law only token owners are allowed to pick up and drive around people. Rates are set by the municipality as well.

The market needs to break up and become more free.

Similarly, until a few years ago it was forbidden to operate busses between cities.

Uber has some negative aspects but opening up the market and allowing healthy competition is certainly a huge positive.