Ask SAFE: Ridesharing

Written by SAFE

I do not have a car and sometimes use ride shares. What can I do to make sure that I am safe when I do call a ride share?

Everyone deserves to be and feel safe as they go through their day, but the reality is that it’s impossible to predict other people’s actions or behavior.

Before you enter the vehicle, confirm the license plate and name of the driver to ensure someone else isn’t posing as the driver. Several rideshare companies have a “share your trip” option that lets a friend track your ride through GPS to make sure you arrive to your destination safely.

Trust your instincts: If you feel unsafe, don’t get in the car. If the driver asks you to do anything that you question – like ride in the front seat, rate the driver while being watched, answer relationship status questions, etc. – you can say, “No,” or “That’s inappropriate.”

And always remember, even if the ride has already begun, you may ask the driver to drop you off at the nearest safe location. If the driver refuses to drop you off, you should call 911 immediately.

I’m a rideshare driver and one of my recent passengers started acting creepy – telling me I’m pretty, talking to me about kissing. Luckily the ride ended quickly, but what can I do if that happens again?

First of all, this passenger’s behavior classifies as sexual harassment and is totally unacceptable. Rideshare companies have community guidelines that passengers and drivers must follow in order to use the service. In the future, if the passenger refuses to stop harassing behavior, you can cancel the ride and report the incident to the rideshare company. If the rider refuses to leave the car you should call 911.

One of my recent ride share drivers used my ride share account name to track me down on Facebook, and now won’t leave me alone. What do I do?

Major rideshare companies prohibit drivers or passengers from contacting each other after the ride has ended. Stalking is a serious crime. No two situations are the same, but there are steps you can take to address this person’s behavior.

Try to log every time they contact you to keep evidence of the unwanted contact. You can also block the user and report the messages anonymously to Facebook to review. Additionally, report the driver to the rideshare company.

Trust your instincts: If you ever feel unsafe, consider contacting SAFEline or law enforcement.