Safety Tips at the Conclusion of Your Rideshare
Part 3 of 4 X 10 Rideshare Safety Tips
Ten Post Rideshare Safety Precautions
Lyft safety and Uber Safety Tips
Continue assessing your personal safety even during the conclusion of your trip. When approaching your final destination, place your body in an advantageous position in case the driver attempts something harmful. Also assess your safety after you exit the vehicle.
1. Manually unlock the passenger’s door when approaching your destination. If need be, you can immediately escape. Some vehicles have pull tabs and others have push levers. Wanting to slow your escape, a nefarious driver can keep the car in drive or press the driver door lock, instantly locking all doors. This requires you to manually unlock the passenger side again.
2. Put your cell phone in your pocket or purse before the vehicle stops. Keep your hands free for faster escape or if you must defend yourself. The next couple tips should be done with hands free. You also do not want to drop your phone when exiting the vehicle.
3. Inspect the seats and floor to ensure that you have all of your belongings. If you are threatened, your physical safety and escape becomes more important than your property. If you leave your mobile phone or other item in the vehicle, contact the rideshare company directly, not the driver, to arrange a way to return your item is delivered to a service office or “hub.”
4. Unbuckle your seatbelt before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Free your body from restraints so you can quickly exit the vehicle or better protect yourself.
5. Open your car door upon arriving at your destination. Let yourself out of the car. Do not allow the driver to get out, walk around, and open the door for you. This provides opportunity for him to attack you.
6. Never give the driver your entry gate code. Upon arrival, get out of the vehicle and shield your access code while typing it into the keypad or call the house or business for entry.
7. After you get out of the vehicle, wait for the driver to be out of sight before walking to your home or business. Dropping you off with packages at the gate, makes it cumbersome not to share your address. Consider pre-arranging with someone to meet you at the drop off point with a text or phone call, especially at night or in unfamiliar locations.
Sometimes drivers may wait at a location while they search for their next trip. Better to walk in the opposite direction of the vehicle is facing. If the driver gave you a creepy feeling, walk in the opposite direction of your destination, go to a business, and circle back when the driver finally leaves.
8. Rate your driver honestly. If your driver said something inappropriate, asked uncomfortable red-flag personal questions, leered at you, or give you a “creepy feeling”, then rate accordingly. Though it is at the company’s discretion about whether they cancel the driver’s permit, multiple ratings of the same nature may cause notice.
9. If you are assaulted report the incident to police. Otherwise rideshare offenders will continue their behavior until they are reported.
10. Never respond to text messages or calls from the driver after the ride. Do not give your real phone number to a driver, but in the event the driver obtains your number the only text should be a clear, “Do not text or call me.” After that no more contact, and any texts or calls may be perceived as being receptive or provocative in the driver’s mind. Attempting to be polite and nice by returning text messages will have the opposite result as avoidance will incite anger and aggression in their expectations. Clearly stating stop will establish a boundary from which criminal actions can be pursued if law enforcement assistance is required. Any reply on your part dilutes your case in the event the caller becomes a nuisance or a stalker. No return response is the best response.
Safety Summary for Ten Post Rideshare Preparations
- Manually unlock the passenger’s door when approaching your destination.
- Put your cell phone in your pocket or purse before the vehicle stops.
- Inspect the seats and floor to ensure that you have all of your belongings.
- Unbuckle your seatbelt before the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
- Open your car door upon arriving at your destination.
- Never give the driver your entry gate code.
- After you get out of the vehicle, wait for the driver to be out of sight
- Rate your driver honestly.
- If you are assaulted report the incident to police.
- Never respond to text messages or calls from the driver after the ride.
4 X 10 Safety Tips for Ridesharing Safety
Crime prevention rideshare safety tips before, during, and after a pay-per ride trip.
- 1 X 10 Pre-Rideshare Safety Preparations
- 2 X 10 Rideshare Safety Preparations
- 3 X 10 Post Rideshare Safety Precautions (on this page)
- 4 X 10 Rideshare Options if Threatened
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