5 ways to stay safe on Uber

This May saw the celebration of the UN’s Global Road Safety Week. It comes down to how to stay safe in transit. Increasingly more people are turning to technology to hitch a ride—many through Uber. The firm says its drivers and their vehicles are pre-screened. But it adds there are “also things that riders can […]

This May saw the celebration of the UN’s Global Road Safety Week.

It comes down to how to stay safe in transit.

Increasingly more people are turning to technology to hitch a ride—many through Uber.

The firm says its drivers and their vehicles are pre-screened.

But it adds there are “also things that riders can do to ensure their safety.”

Know your ride

Riders should always take the time to review the safety features available to them in the app. Because rides can only be requested through the app, users should “never accept” street hail solicitation from those claiming to be with Uber.

“When riders are ready to request a ride, it is important for them to avoid spending unnecessary time outside alone with their phone in their hand. Instead, it best for them to wait indoors until the app shows their driver has arrived,” the firm said in a statement.

Know your driver

When a driver accepts a rider’s request, the rider is able to see the driver’s first name, photo, licence plate number, type of vehicle as well as the vehicle colour.

You’ll be able to see this from within the app itself – on the map.

The rider should always make sure that those match before they enter the vehicle and ensure they ask for the drivers name when they open the door.

Sharing trip details

All Uber trips can be tracked using GPS. A rider is able to monitor their own trip in the Uber app and share their estimated time of arrival with their loved ones.

That way, friends and family keep track of their location all through the trip, and they don’t even need to download the app.

In-app help

Trust your phone. The help section of the app is designed to respond to queries in the shortest time possible.

Follow intuition

When using Uber the rider should be aware of their surroundings, if they feel like something’s not right they should trust their instincts and use their best judgement, the firm says.

“Riders should be cautious when sharing any personal information and should always confirm that the driver-partner is in fact the one they saw on the app, and if they ever feel they’re in an emergency situation, they are advised to alert the local emergency services immediately.”