Safety Tips for Uber/Lyft Riders
Ridesharing has transformed and revolutionized the world of transportation. Offering convenience, affordability, and accessibility, rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft have become increasingly popular. Although you may not be the one driving, taking steps to ensure your safety while in a rideshare vehicle is paramount. Let’s explore some important safety tips to keep in mind when using rideshare services.
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Verify Your Ride Details
Once your rideshare vehicle has arrived to pick you up, the first thing that you should do is check the vehicle’s car, make, model, and license plate match up with the details provided in the app. Once you have confirmed these details, then you should open up the car door and ask who the driver is there to pick up.
After your name has been confirmed, make sure that the driver’s photo and name align with what is stated in the app. To add another layer of security, you can enable the verification pin feature to your app that requires the driver to confirm the pin sent to your phone before driving.
The next thing that you can do to help keep yourself safe while riding in an Uber or Lyft is to share your trip information with a friend or family member. Known as “Follow My Ride” on the Uber app, this safety feature allows you to share your trip status and location with another individual so that they can be informed about your whereabouts and will receive notifications about any updates to your ride. This is particularly advised if you are riding alone in a rideshare vehicle.
Sit in the Back Seat
The next safety tip that you should follow when riding in a rideshare vehicle is to sit in the back seat, if possible. This is important for a couple of reasons. First, sitting in the back seat gives both you and the driver personal space.
After all, more likely than not, your rideshare driver will be a complete stranger, meaning that they as well as yourself may feel uncomfortable sitting too close to one another, particularly if you have the option to distance yourself. The second reason why you should consider sitting in the back is that this allows you to exit on either side of the vehicle to avoid traffic and depart the vehicle safely.
Wear a Seatbelt
This next tip should hopefully be a no-brainer – wear a seatbelt! Just because you are not driving and you may not know the individual driving does not mean that you are exempt from following the laws of the road.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wearing a seatbelt is the most effective way to prevent injury or death in vehicle crashes. If you were injured in a rideshare accident, it is important to contact a Van Nuys Uber/Lyft accident lawyer as liability can become more complex in these types of cases.
Refrain from Sharing Personal Information
Another thing you should make sure to do when riding in an Uber or Lyft is to refrain from sharing any personal information with the driver. During rideshare trips, it is not uncommon for drivers and passengers to engage in conversation for part of the ride or even the whole duration of the trip.
However, under no circumstances are you required to reveal any personal information about yourself, where you live, your contact information, where you are going, and the like. This will help ensure that you are safe and that your personal information is kept private.
The last thing that you can do to help ensure the safety of future passengers is to rate them and report any safety issues that may have come up. Informing the rideshare company about these issues is important to ensuring that passengers are safe and comfortable. Taking just a few minutes to do this after your ride can make the world of a difference and can greatly enhance the safety of ridesharing.
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