There are no official statistics that track incidences of rideshare crime and accidents. However, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that you need to be careful when you book a ride with Uber or Lyft.
That is not to say that ridesharing is inherently dangerous, though. Millions of people ride with Uber and Lyft every day without experiencing any issues whatsoever. Even so, when you use a rideshare service, you are still getting in a car with someone you don’t know, so it would be wise to take a few simple safety precautions. Here are ten tips to help you rideshare safely.
1. Stay Safe While You Wait for Your Ride
It is best to order your Uber or Lyft while you are still inside a building and, if you can, wait inside for your ride to arrive. Rideshare apps have a driver tracking feature, so you will be able to see when your ride turns up, so there is no need to wait outside. What you want to avoid is waiting on a street corner on your own, looking like you are lost or waiting for a ride.
2. Check Your Driver’s Rating
Your driver’s rating will be a good indication of how safe other passengers have felt riding with your driver. Lyft and Uber allow passengers to rate their drivers between one and five. Look for a rating that is as close to five as possible. A rating of almost five will indicate that the driver has some experience and that most passengers have been satisfied with the service they received.
3. Ask the Driver, “What’s My Name?”
Your driver will be able to see your name on their app. So, ask your Uber driver to confirm your name before you get into the car. One of the biggest dangers of using a rideshare service is that you will get picked up by a scam driver who is posing as your rideshare driver. A legitimate driver will know both your name and your destination.
4. Make Sure It is the Right Car
Another way to check that your driver is legitimate is to double-check their car and license plate against what is shown on the app. Your driver’s car details will be displayed in the rideshare app. You should also check the driver’s photo on the app to make sure that someone else isn’t posing as the registered driver.
5. Share a Ride When You Can
Whenever possible, don’t ride alone. Regardless of the mode of transport, it is always safer not to travel on your own, especially at night. If you travel with friends you will be a lot safer, and you can share the cost of the ride between you.
