3 Tips For Staying Safe While Using Ridesharing Services

While using ridesharing services can be a convenient way to get to where you need to be without having to pay the sometimes higher prices of a cab or drive yourself, being a passenger in someone else’s car always comes with its own set of dangers.

Not only do you need to worry about the risks of being in a car in the first place, like getting into a car accident, but you also need to know how to best protect yourself while in the presence of a complete stranger. To help you with this, here are three tips for staying safe while using ridesharing services.

Ask The Driver To Identify You First

While there are a lot of fail-safes in place that make ridesharing relatively safe, there’s always a chance that something could happen that puts you in real physical danger. Because of this, it’s wise to follow some rules during every ridesharing experience that will allow you to ensure you’re as safe as possible.

According to Emily Ferron, a contributor to Safety.com, one of the very first things you should do, before even getting into the car, is to ask the driver what your name is. If it’s the right driver picking you up, they’ll have this information as well as your destination information. So by simply asking him or her to tell you what your name is, you’ll be able to guarantee that you’re getting into the right car with the right person.

Let Someone Know About Your Trip

Another thing you should do when using a rideshare service is to share your trip with someone you know.

Ashley Rossi, a contributor to Smarter Travel, shares that every rideshare service gives you the option to share your ETA with others. By doing this, you’ll be sending the vital information about where you are and where you’re going with someone you trust. And if something were to happen to you while in the car, the person you shared your trip information with will be able to send authorities to the right location in order to find or help you.

Always Choose The Back Seat

Although you might feel weird about it, sitting in the back seat is the safest place for you as the passenger, especially if you’re using the rideshare service by yourself.

By sitting in the back seat rather than sitting next to the driver in the passenger seat, ABC 7 Chicago and CNN share that you’ll be able to keep more personal space between you and the driver. Additionally, you’ll have multiple exits available to you depending on which side of traffic you need to get out on.

If you’re worried about your safety while using a ridesharing service, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you stay safe.