Rideshare Safety Concerns: What You Need to Know & How to Stay Safe
As rideshare services becoming increasingly popular, it should come as no surprise that such services pose the same risks and dangers as any other mode of transportation. However, safety concerns surrounding popular rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have gained attention in recent years, as reports of inappropriate behavior have skyrocketed. Pressure placed on Uber and other rideshare services to revise their safety policies has led to a series of necessary changes and proposals, but are they enough? How can you stay safe as a rider? We’ll start by taking a look at what these safety concerns entail, along with the some of the many ways that you can ensure your safety.
The media, government officials, and the public have placed significant pressure on rideshare companies to not only reform their safety regulations, but also release information regarding safety concerns, leading many outlets, the most popular being Uber and Lyft, to release compelling reports detailing the misconduct allegations to the public. Uber’s long-anticipated safety report examined reports made by riders in 2017 and 2018. According to the report, there have been nearly 6,000 sexual assault reports in these two years alone.
An article by The Verge reported that Uber’s first ever safety report included a staggering 3,045 reported sexual assaults that were all said to have taken place in 2018 alone. Even more troubling is the fact that nine people had been murdered during Uber rides and an additional 58 died due to auto-related collisions. The news of the thousands of reported sexual assaults came as quite a shock to the public, leaving many to ask how Uber is actively working to address the problem. The Verge explains that the majority of the sexual assault reports were in relation to inappropriate behavior by drivers toward passengers. However, it is probable that the estimated number of sexual assaults is much higher in reality, considering that many incidents go unreported. Uber has faced their share of lawsuits in regards to the assaults that have occurred while using their platform. The nearly 84 page safety report is likely to be closely examined by authorities in the near future, prompting many rideshare companies to scramble in their efforts to implement effective safety protocols.
Lyft has also had its share of media attention after almost 20 women sued Lyft for “failing to prevent sexual assault perpetrated by drivers on the platform and for doing little to investigate their complaints” (The Verge). Uber claimed to have removed over 40,000 drivers from the platform since last year as a result of their ‘improved’ screening process that includes background checks. In addition to this, an article published by the Washington Post revealed that Uber has plans to begin audio-recording rides in its efforts to protect riders amid the rise in safety issues. The feature is likely to be tested in Latin America in the upcoming months before it makes it to the states. Although laws may vary from state to state, Uber hopes to make audio-recording available nationally.
If you are a frequent user of Uber or any other rideshare platforms, it is crucial that you are familiar with the ways in which you can stay safe as a rider. Gaining an awareness of any behavior that appears suspicious or out of the ordinary is just one important way that you can stay safe. Uber posted a list of ten safety tips for riders on their website. Uber encourages riders to make use of the ‘share trip status’ feature on the app so that family members or friends can be notified of your status, as well as who your driver is. Uber also encourages riders to verify all of their ride information before entering the vehicle by confirming the license plate, driver’s name, and having the driver confirm their name to ensure that they are getting into the right car. Finally, Uber urges riders to follow their intuitions and report any suspicious behavior by giving their feedback about the trip. If you would like to know more about rideshare safety concerns and how you can stay safe, visit the links below for more information.
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