Have you ever tried rideshare, and what is your opinion regarding the safety and practicality? Many people are still skeptical when it comes to this, despite the rising popularity of rideshare, and they have every right to be, as you never know who you can come across. However, this is a great chance for those who need a ride to work, home, or even long-distance rides, and want to find a cheaper option. There are a few tips on how to use the benefits of rideshare, and still stay safe, not worrying about anything bad or threatening happening to you.
Get informed and prepared on time
First of all, you need to get informed about potential dangers on time. By doing this, you’ll be well aware of all the rideshare dangers and will feel safer knowing you know what to be aware of. Find articles online, read them carefully, as they usually also include some tips on how to deal with such dangers and stay safe. This is usually the first step, which might seem unimportant, but can save your life and help you get over your anxiety.
Use a reliable app or platform
First of all, you need to know where to look for rideshares to stay safe. How to do this?
- Choose a well-known rideshare platform. What does a well-known rideshare platform mean? Those platforms that are widely used by the public and have great ratings. There are many such apps nowadays, and by choosing the right one, you ensure no problems, or even if such occurs, you know that someone will take care of it.
- Don’t forget some safety tools. Even though rideshare platforms are widely popular nowadays, everyone likes to be extra careful, and likes platforms that offer tools to ensure such safety. Such tools can be trip-shares, emergency assistance, etc.
- Customer support is a must. Customer support is crucial for any business, so make sure the ridesharing platform you choose offers 24/7 customer support, so that you can contact them in case of any uncertainty.
Confirm the license plates…
You should make this a habit before entering any rideshare vehicles. Always check their license plates and the model of the car. Compare to see if it fits the details provided on the platform. Such rideshare platforms also provide a photo of the driver, so that’s one more thing to check before entering the vehicle. This way, you make sure that that’s actually the person the platform sent for you. Also, the photo ensures you know who to expect, and don’t hesitate to check all this, as the drivers are usually aware of the potential dangers and understand that you just want to stay safe.
Where you sit can be important
Once your ride is there, make sure you know exactly where to sit to feel safer if anything happens. Usually, people choose back seats; more precisely, they feel safer sitting behind the passenger seat. This way, you can exit the vehicle quickly if necessary. However, this depends on a person; just think strategically, in case anything happens, you might need to act without much thinking.
Always share your location with a trusted person
Thanks to the rise of technology and all the tools we have access to nowadays, we can share our location with whoever we want, ensuring our safety. Why should you do this?
- By doing this, whatever happens, you know that someone knows where you are. Of course, location sharing works when your phone is on and when it’s connected to the internet, or has a signal. The best way to do this is to let your friends or family know that you’re taking a rideshare to a certain location, so that they can check occasionally, ensuring the driver doesn’t take any suspicious route.
- They can call you whenever they think something isn’t right. They can stay in contact with you and can check whether everything is okay during the whole ride. This way, not only do you feel safer, but also them.
- If they can’t reach you, they can contact the police. If they notice anything suspicious and can’t reach you, or if they notice your location and your phone is off, they can contact the police and take immediate steps. This is why it’s important to share all the details with them, such as the license plates, model of the car, and most importantly, the driver’s photo.
Always be prepared!
Even if everything seems all right, you should always be prepared, as you never know when something can happen. Of course, this doesn’t mean taking steps at the slightest suspicion; however, you should always have your phone near you, or if possible, any self-defence tool. This way, you can react quickly, and this quick reaction can, without any doubt, save your life. It’s always better to be well-prepared, even when you think there is no need, than to experience any difficult situation that can affect you greatly.
Don’t share much personal information
Sometimes, you get carried away in a conversation and share too much personal information unconsciously. You need to be aware of how dangerous this can be, as your rideshare drivers shouldn’t know much about you. They can misuse these pieces of information, and you can find yourself in a really difficult and dangerous situation. Share how much you think is appropriate, and how much you think won’t affect you later on.
Be aware of traffic dangers
When we talk about safety when ridesharing, people mostly think about staying safe from the driver or being kidnapped, molested, or anything similar. Very few think about traffic dangers and how this can be a real thing. If you notice that the driver goes against traffic regulations, puts you and them in danger, make sure to express your concern. If they don’t seem to care, then contact the ridesharing platform you used for that specific ride. Wear a seatbelt, follow all the regulations, and don’t distract the driver.
Ridesharing can be dangerous in some situations; however, it can also be a very useful type of transportation if you follow certain advice. Share your location, take some safety steps, and enjoy your ride!
