Uber, a ubiquitous part of modern life, offers unparalleled convenience for city travel. Its safety features make it a preferable option over hailing a cab, especially in unfamiliar locations. Understanding and implementing these safety tips for Uber travel is crucial. They empower you to ensure you’re in an authorized vehicle and maximize your safety.
These tips are your guide to a safe Uber travel experience, providing the support you need to navigate this ride option.
Stay Inside
When ordering your ride, stay inside until your app tells you your driver is close by or at your pick-up point. This means you reduce the risk of someone pretending to be your driver when they’re not, someone trying to join you in your vehicle, or becoming a victim of theft from a station in the street with your device in your hand waiting for the driver to arrive.
Check Your Ride
One of the great features of the Uber app is the ability to check the registration plate of the vehicle in the app. If you have any doubts, you need to check that this plate matches the plate number shown in the app. If it doesn’t, it’s not your ride, and no excuses from the person claiming to be your driver should be accepted.
Don’t Give Your Name
If you ask your potential driver if they’re here to pick you up using your name, they can simply say yes to trick you, and you won’t be any the wiser. For added safety when using Uber services, you need to be asking the driver who they are picking up. Both you and the driver can see each other’s first names in the app, and they should be able to tell you who they are supposed to be collecting and give you their name when they ask you to check it against the app.
Ride Backseat
For added safety, and it’s always recommended that you ride in the backseat for any taxi service or ride share option you select for your journeys. You’re essentially riding with strangers, and safety is paramount. Not only does it give you and the driver rental space, but it also means you have a way to get out of the vehicle if required, away from traffic. This is episodically important if you’re in an accident and you need to get out. The easier it is to get to safety, the better.
Wear Your Seatbelt
Riding in an Uber doesn’t exempt you from wearing your seatbelt; normal laws still apply. More importantly, if you’re ever in an accident, wearing your seatbelt can protect you from more severe injuries, and it will help your case if you need to talk to an uber accident lawyer.
Share Your Location
Lastly, a great tip for added safety for your Uber journeys is to let someone know where you are and how you’re getting to your destination or share your location with loved ones. This way, if anything untoward does happen, such as a driver behaving inappropriately or taking an unsafe route, or you’re involved in an accident, someone else will have your location and get help to you quickly if you need it.
