More and more people are traveling since the lockdowns of 2020. Traveling with family and friends, and solo can be exciting and fun, but you want to also be safe. Many places offer rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. These options tend to be cheaper than a taxi and more convenient than public transportation. As pro-staff for Shoot Like A Girl and Safe LivinG, I sometimes take advantage of these services. As you’ve probably read in the media, some people have been attacked and even murdered while using a rideshare. There are several things you can do to be safer if you do use them, this article will explore some general things you can do to stay safe while using rideshare services.
First and foremost, do your own safety check
First, for either rideshare you need to download their app and register a credit card on their system. Once you do that and you determine where you want to go there are several ways to increase your safety. First and foremost, do your own safety check: verify the car (car make and model) the license plate of the car and verify the driver by matching them to their photo before you get in. Lastly, ask the driver who they are there for, let them supply your name. I have heard stories of people leaving a bar or other place, seeing a car drive up that looks like a ride share and they get in without checking first. You don’t want to put yourself in a situation like that.
On Uber you can also text the same information to someone in your contact list. They will get the description of the car, license plate number, name and photo of the driver and a live feed map on where the car is at the current time. I highly suggest you text this information to someone. When traveling for personal reasons I text this to my husband, while on a work trip, I text our Lead. This way someone knows your destination and where you are traveling in case something happens.
What to do if you feel unsafe on a Ride-share ride
You verified the car, license plate and driver and are sitting with your seat belt on what else can you do to be safer? Uber has a “safety Checkup” which is a blue shield on the map to open a Safety Toolkit. From there you can click on “contact 911” and the app will show you details to share with the operator then you just swipe “Call 911” or tap “Text 911” . The next link is “Live Safety Help” if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe on your ride, you can tap on “Contact Safety Agent” to call or text a trained safety agent. The last link is “Report Safety Issue” you would use this to report other safety issues. This isn’t live help and Uber will review what happened and get back to you.
Lyft also has some safety features, but again, once you book your ride, verify the car, license plate and driver prior to getting into the car. You can upload a photo to your profile so the driver can verify who they are picking up. Lyft monitors rides for unusual activities, if there is a prolonged stop or going off course, Lyft will contact you directly. You can also share your location with others. You can do this by adding people into your contacts in the Lyft app on your safety settings. The person you share this information with will also see where your ride is in real time. Like Uber, if you feel unsafe during your ride you can discretely contact emergency help in the way of an ADT trained professional from the app. If necessary they can alert authorities and provide them will all the information and location of your ride. Lyft also advertises that their Safety Team members are trained in victim advocacy and have other trained to help in specific situations.
Traveling is fun but can also be stressful at times. Worrying about how you will get around safely in an unfamiliar place can ruin your trip. Using a ride share can be an alternative to a text or public transportation and if you take some safety precautions you’ll be getting around in no time!
Read more articles about safety – Texting and Driving Can Have Devastating and Far-Reaching Consequences , You’re Being Followed…Now What?, 10 Tips to Keep You Safe in “The Red Zone”
