When you are riding with Uber or Lyft, there are a few things you should know about passenger safety. Safety is one of the most important aspects of ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft. So, here are some essential safety tips for passengers who are looking to ride with Uber or Lyft.
Read on to learn more.
Properly Check All Information
When you order a ride, you just don’t check all the information. What this means is that you check the picture of the driver, check the vehicle, and check the license plate to make sure all that information is correct. You should do this right after you order an Uber or Lyft.
Just make sure you know what you are looking for and who you are looking for. The key is to double-check all things before you get into the car.
You want to make sure, especially in crowded places where there are many people waiting for their ridesharing service, that you get into the right Uber or Lyft.
Make Sure the Driver Matches the Person on the App
When the driver gets there, it is crucial to check all information to see whether everything matches. On that note, check the license plate. Also, check the driver and make sure the driver indeed looks like the one in the picture provided on the app.
Check the vehicle and make sure that it is the same vehicle. There are a few things that you might not realize as a passenger. For instance, the good thing is that Uber has put an option into their driving platform where you have to take a picture and show that you are who you are. Subsequently, the authentication process is very quick.
However, as a passenger, it is your responsibility to always double-check to ensure that the person who has the account is actually the person who is driving.
Double-Check on the Driver
We cannot stress enough on the importance of ensuring that the driver matches the person in the profile picture. The reason we are emphasizing this aspect is that it is a big thing that some Uber or Lyft passengers ignore, which can put them in serious jeopardy.
There can be instances where the car model or the license plate doesn’t match the description in the app, which can be possible because of the fact that the driver might have gotten a new car or applied for a new license plate, which might not have gotten updated in the app system yet.
But knowing that the driver is the same and the vehicle’s model is correct – these are definitely the two main things to look out for. As we mentioned before, the license plate might not match in certain circumstances, and if it doesn’t match, you must verify with the driver why the license plate doesn’t match.
As a passenger, you should absolutely ensure that you are getting into the right ride and that you are going to be safe.
Double-Check their Phone
Another passenger safety tip is to double-check their phone also and see their credentials. Make sure that it is you who is matched with them. Usually, the driver’s phone is going to be placed inside a place where they can see where they are going as a driver.
As a passenger, you can double-check the driver’s phone to make sure that your name is the name at the bottom for who is going to be picked up and that it is the right location where you will be going. You will want to make sure that the credentials match before you get into the car and head towards your destination.
Speaking of your destination, you should also know what exactly you should do if the Uber or Lyft car that you are driving in gets into a car crash. If you are residing in Alpharetta, you can get in touch with the Alpharetta Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys to ensure that your rights are protected, as the attorney will take up the matter with the insurance company of the respective rideshare company and get you the compensation that is rightfully yours.
Check the Sticker
When someone pulls up to pick you up for a ride, you must check whether they have an Uber or Lyft sticker on their vehicle. Don’t just assume that the vehicle is your Uber or Lyft. It might not be – especially in large population spots such as bar districts or some events that might be happening, and people are in great numbers getting out at the same time.
The thing is that when a car pulls up, it could be just anybody, which is why it is your responsibility to double-check and ensure that you are on the right ride.
Always Share Your Location
As a passenger, we recommend you always share your location with family or friends. You should have somebody with whom you share your location when riding in an Uber or Lyft. Usually, these rideshare apps have the option where you can share the exact location in real time with others.
This way, if there is any issue, your loved ones can check on you. So, the share-location option is definitely a nice safety feature that all passengers can use when they are on a ride. Also, especially if you are drunk after a night out with your friends and you are simply not doing well, make sure you turn your location on and share it with someone you trust.
Call the Police if You Feel Unsafe
Another safety tip that you will find useful as a passenger of Uber or Lyft is that you should call the police if you feel unsafe and need to. Also, apart from calling the police, if you need to get out of the vehicle, you should get out of the vehicle.
You don’t have to be stuck in the vehicle, so if you feel like you need to get out – you can ask the driver to stop the car so you can leave the vehicle.