Safe Rides 101: Essential Safety Tips for Solo Travel with Uber and Lyft
Pre-booking or hiring a ride has never been as popular as it has been lately. This growing popularity has not only brought convenience for women and people from all walk of life, also with it comes some setbacks which can be avoided if the passenger is alert and observant.
Several cases have been reported against Uber and Lyft drivers for sexually assaulting women. This raises a very concerning question on women’s safety; especially those who are lone travelers. These cases filed in court have risen over the years.
Is Uber Safe?
There are 550 cases pending in San Francisco court against Uber for Uber drivers attacking, kidnapping, sexually assaulting, raping, stalking, and harassing their passengers. As ride-sharing becomes increasingly popular, women are asking: are Ubers safe to use? With the convenience of Uber comes concerns about security, especially for women traveling alone. In this article, we will talk about the top safety measures you can take and the ones that Uber has in place for your personal safety. From understanding the app's safety features to learning how to trust your instincts, we will provide practical tips for ensuring a safe journey, and equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your travel. Join us as we explore the reality of Uber's safety for women, empowering you to ride with confidence.
Is Lyft Safe?
There are 17 cases against the San Francisco based company Lyft where both drivers and riders faced physical assault and sexual harassment from Lyft passengers or driver. In the era of ride-sharing, the safety of Lyft for women remains a pressing question. In this article, we will examine the safety protocols Lyft has in place and evaluating their effectiveness from the perspective of a female passenger. We will explore real experiences of women riders, in-app safety features, and top 3 share actionable tips for enhancing personal safety. This article aims to empower women with information and strategies to make confident, informed decisions about using Lyft, ensuring a safer travel experience.
Essential Safety Measures for Uber/Lyft Rides
Keep Your Phone Fully Charged
Before calling an Uber or Lyft, charge your cell phone, enough to sustain your trip. If you’re not sure that your phone will be fully charged at the end of your day, when you need to take a ride-share back home, then carry a portable battery pack in your purse. If your phone battery dies while you're waiting alone for a ride, you may attract attention from passing drivers. In such a situation, it's important to move away and find a public area where you can safely access a phone. Reach out to friends or family who can pick you up.
Avoid: Do not wait by yourself in a secluded spot.
Safety Tip: When heading out to a party or dinner in high heels, always carry a pair of flat shoes with you. Flats are great for running away from a dangerous situation. Additionally, your heels can serve as an effective self-defense tool if needed.
Confirm Driver’s Identity
Once your ride arrives, do not rush to get in. Before getting into the vehicle, confirm the following details in the app:
driver’s name
driver’s picture
vehicle license plate number
to ensure that the ride you’re about the take matches the one you booked.
Avoid: If any detail doesn't match what's shown in your app, do not get into the car and walk away. You are not obligated to provide any explanations to the driver. Your safety is the top priority.
Safety Tip: For added assurance, ask the driver to confirm their name and check if it matches what's indicated in the app. Also, take a picture of the license plate for your reference.
Check Door Handles
Before starting your ride, always make sure the car door handles work from the inside to avoid being trapped by a child-lock or broken handle. If the handles don’t work, ask the driver why. Trust your gut feeling – if something feels off, it’s better to not take that ride. In case of a car crash, a non-working door could trap you inside.
Avoid: Do not take the ride if both handles do not open from the inside. Ask the driver to let you out and be ready to press the emergency button in your app if the driver doesn’t let you out. If the driver initiates a friendly conversation and that’s distracting you from your safety checks, then just politely let the driver know, “Please give me a minute. In need to check a few things.” This allows you to be focused on your safety checks without being rude. Do not hesitate to speak up.
Safety Tip: Choose to sit in the back seat directly behind the driver. This position makes it harder for the driver to reach you compared to sitting behind the passenger seat or sitting in the front seat. In contrast, if you're seated behind the driver, you have easier access to the driver if you need to take emergency action, like using your scarf to compel them to stop. This seating choice can provide a strategic advantage in maintaining your safety.
Share Ride Details
Use the in-app feature to share your trip details with trusted contacts in real-time. This includes the driver's name, vehicle information, and your estimated time of arrival.
Avoid: Do not share your ride details with someone who is unable during any duration of the ride.
Safety Tip: Let the driver know that you’re sharing your ride details with a friend or family member. Here’s a sly way to say that, “Can you please wait a few seconds before we start driving? I am sharing my location with my husband who is currently working at the Irvine Police Department.”
Uber/Lyft In-App Emergency Button
Familiarize yourself with the safety features of the app. Most ride-sharing apps have an emergency button that can be used to alert authorities if needed. If you ever feel unsafe after getting into a cab, even after taking all the precautions, it is crucial to act and act quickly. Both Uber and Lyft have an emergency feature in their apps. If something feels wrong, like the driver not following the correct route, appearing impaired, or not responding, use this button. It sends your GPS location to local police without the driver knowing. The app also offers an option to call 911, which can help authorities track your location via GPS.
Avoid: Try to avoid letting the driver know that you’re hitting the emergency button. You can text 911 after you hit the emergency button. If you must speak with a 911 authority, you may do so discreetly pretending to speak with a friend. You may start the conversation like this, “Hi Samantha. This is Fauzia. I’m on route to the hotel and I really need your help at the hotel before I arrive. I’m currently at the intersection of Pike Street and Rochester Ave. This is an emergency. Can you please go to my hotel room and do something for me? I’ll text you the details.” Then follow the dispatcher’s instructions, keep your phone on if they need to track your GPS, or hang up if asked, and text 911 any additional details.
Safety Tip: Remember, your safety is paramount. If at any point during the ride you feel unsafe, instruct the driver to stop in a safe location and exit the vehicle.
Survival Tactics: Last Resort Measures for Dangerous Rides
Number of sexual assault cases and murders during rides is alarming. In such extreme situations, here are some last-resort actions you can take legally:
Scream: Use your voice powerfully and loudly to shock the driver and force them to stop their car.
Jump: If screaming doesn’t get the driver to stop, then assess the speed of the car. If it's safe, or when you feel it’s safe to jump out of the car, JUMP!
Choke: When screaming doesn't work and jumping isn't an option, use an item like your scarf, wrap it around the drivers neck and pretend to choke them to force them to let you out.
Avoid: Exercise extreme caution! Actually choking the driver could lead to a loss of control and a crash, endangering your life as well.
Safety Tip: Make sure to explain to law enforcement that your actions were a necessary response to a life-threatening situation akin to being kidnapped.
Prevention
As always, our motto at Defense Ninjas is: if you have to fight, it’s too late. So prevention is the best cure. One of the best ways to prevent any verbal or physical advances from your driver, from the perspective of a female rider, is to ooze empowerment. If you look and feel like a warrior, your driver is likely to leave you alone. So what does an empowered ninja warrior look like?
She sets clear boundaries: You do not need to talk to your driver. If you’re not comfortable and they initiate a conversation, simply say, “I’m not interested in a conversation. Please just focus on the road.”
She stays professional: You do not need to share personal information on where you’re going, what flight you’re taking, etc. Simply say, “I’m not comfortable sharing” and feel empowered to keep the conversation professional and to-the-point. I’m always very curious about the stories behind these drivers, why they are driving, how do they like it, what are some interesting stories they have to share, etc. I am usually like an interviewer in the vehicle, and the drivers almost always obligingly share all the information. Nonethless, not once, have they asked me any personal information, despite the life story I’ve asked them to share ;) Why? That’s explained in the next point.
She speak powerfully and sits in a strong body language: If I must cross my legs, I make a figure-4 and take up a lot of space. I’ll splay my arms such that one arm is on top of the headrest. I speak in low inflection, enunciate clearly, and speak 20% louder than most passengers. Right off the bat, I position myself as an intimidating character: one not to be approached lightly, or at all, someone who might bite!
If you don't naturally feel strong or act powerfully but want to boost your confidence in your presence and communication, start with our FREE 1-Hour Masterclass on Personal Safety and Empowerment available HERE. You can book a complimentary consultation with us HERE to further your journey. Stay safe and enjoy your ride, my friend! 🙂
To your safety,
Coach Fauzia
2x Blackbelt, Empowerment Psychology Expert, Certified in ESI, DEI, NLP, and more. Connect with me on TikTok or Instagram.
