Ridesharing Safety Tips to Share with Your Team

You wouldn’t let your fleet drivers use unsafe driving practices. Employees shouldn’t have to deal with unsafe situations during rideshares, either.

Unfortunately, ridesharing safety has been a topic of hot debate for the last several months. Specifically, the question of whether or not ridesharing is actually safe.

Ridesharing can be safe, but you must know what to do in the car. Here are a few tips to share with your employees before they call an Uber or Lyft.

Wait in a Safe Place

First and foremost, always make sure to wait in a safe place.

Since ridesharing apps allow you to see where your driver is, you don’t need to go outside to meet them until the last second. Plus, standing outside with your phone out signals passing motorists that you’re waiting for someone to pick you up.

Instead, request your ride indoors and stay there as long as you can. Look for a comfortable, well-lit spot with a lot of people. If you’re in an unfamiliar neighborhood, be aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re alone or it’s late at night.

This environmental and safety awareness should also apply to your ride. If you’re in an unfamiliar city, make sure to check routes to your destination on your own map to ensure that the driver is following the route.

Confirm the Car, Driver, and Your Name

Don’t just look at what time the car is arriving or what the car looks like. It’s a scary thought, but there are cases of scammers posing as rideshare drivers.

You should check the make, model, and license plate number of the car. Your app provides these details for you. Also, make sure to look at the driver’s photo to ensure that the person behind the wheel matches the photo.

Before you get in the car, always ask a driver, “What’s my name and where am I going?” If it’s your actual driver, they will always be able to positively identify you by name and where you’re going, since you have to provide those details to call a car.

This is also helpful if you’re picking up a ride in a busy area like an airport. When dozens of people are calling rideshares at the same time and picking up in the same place, this will help ensure that you don’t get into someone else’s ride.

The good news is that your driver needs to identify you too, so this is a reasonable exchange.

However, your driver should not ask for your personal information, like your phone number or credit card number. All fares are paid through the app, and your phone number is automatically encrypted, as is the driver’s number. There’s no reason for them to need this information.

Never Ride in Front

Ideally, you should never ride alone if you can help it. Use trip-sharing features if you have that choice – it’s an annoyance and it takes longer, but it keeps you from riding alone in a stranger’s car. Plus, it’s cheaper.

If you are riding alone, you should never ride in the front seat of a car.

Uber and Lyft require annual criminal background checks of their drivers, but they do not require fingerprint tests. Some factors slip through the cracks.

Riding in the back keeps a layer of personal space between the rider and the driver. Sit on the passenger side – this makes it easier to keep an eye on the driver and the road. If the driver is distracted or going off the route, you can spot it faster.

However, keep in mind that a good driver won’t force you to sit in a certain seat.

Ridesharing Safety Requires Attention

Like any other form of safety, ridesharing safety demands one simple thing: that you pay attention. The good news is that preparation allows your employees to react to unsafe situations, whether they’re in the car or in the hallway.

If you need more safety tips or updates on the latest safety news, make sure to check out our blog for more great posts.