Rideshare services have changed the way people get around. Whether you’re heading to work, leaving a restaurant, traveling to an airport, returning from an event, or simply trying to get home without driving, requesting a ride can be fast and convenient.
That convenience can also make rideshare transportation feel automatic. You request a car, watch it approach on the app, get inside, and head to your destination.
Street smarts means slowing that process down just enough to make sure you’re getting into the right vehicle with the right driver.
Rideshare safety begins before the vehicle arrives.
Whenever possible, request your ride while you’re still inside a safe location rather than standing alone outside staring at your phone.
A restaurant, hotel lobby, store, workplace, airport pickup area, or other populated location can give you somewhere comfortable to wait until the vehicle is nearby.
Pay attention to the information provided through the rideshare app.
Before getting into the vehicle, compare the license plate, vehicle make and model, and other identifying information displayed in your ride details.
Don’t rely only on the color of the vehicle.
There may be several black SUVs, white sedans, or gray cars arriving in the same area at the same time.
The license plate provides a much more specific way to confirm that the vehicle in front of you is the one connected with your ride.
Look at the driver’s information as well.
The driver’s name and photograph should correspond with the person operating the vehicle. If something doesn’t match, don’t get inside until you’ve resolved the discrepancy through the rideshare platform.
Don’t allow someone to rush you into the vehicle.
Taking a few seconds to verify the ride is worth it.
When the vehicle arrives, avoid immediately announcing the driver’s name.
Instead of walking up and asking, “Are you Michael?” consider asking the driver who they’re picking up.
That gives the driver an opportunity to identify you rather than simply agreeing with information you’ve already provided.
Likewise, don’t get into a vehicle simply because someone pulls up and says they’re your rideshare driver.
Verify the information in your app.
If the license plate, vehicle, or driver doesn’t match, step away and remain somewhere safe while determining what happened.
Sometimes there may be an innocent explanation, but you aren’t obligated to enter a vehicle that doesn’t match the ride you requested.
Pickup areas can become particularly confusing outside airports, stadiums, concerts, bars, clubs, and large events.
Dozens of passengers may be looking for rides while numerous vehicles arrive simultaneously.
Use designated rideshare pickup areas when they’re available.
These locations can make it easier for drivers and passengers to find each other while reducing the temptation to get into the first vehicle that appears.
Keep your attention on your surroundings while waiting.
Watching the driver’s location on the map is useful, but staring continuously at your phone can make you less aware of traffic, other pedestrians, and people around you.
Stand somewhere visible and reasonably populated whenever possible.
Once you’ve confirmed the vehicle, consider where you sit.
A passenger traveling alone may prefer the rear seat because it provides additional personal space and usually allows access to doors on either side of the vehicle.
Sitting in the back can also create a comfortable boundary between the passenger and driver.
Before the vehicle begins moving, make sure you have your belongings with you and fasten your seat belt.
Rideshare vehicles are still motor vehicles, and traffic collisions remain one of the most ordinary safety risks associated with any car trip.
Wear your seat belt even for a short ride.
Once the trip begins, pay attention to the general direction you’re traveling.
You don’t need to spend the entire ride questioning every turn the driver makes. Traffic, construction, road closures, navigation systems, and pickup or drop-off restrictions can produce routes that differ from what you expected.
But you should have a general idea of where you’re going.
If the vehicle begins traveling significantly away from your destination or something about the route concerns you, check the trip information and ask the driver about it.
Don’t ignore a major change simply because you assume the driver must know what they’re doing.
Rideshare apps may provide safety features that allow passengers to share trip information, contact emergency assistance, report concerns, or access other protections.
Become familiar with those features before you need them.
Trying to learn how an emergency feature works during an uncomfortable situation isn’t ideal.
Sharing your trip with someone you trust can provide another layer of security, particularly when traveling alone, late at night, or in an unfamiliar area.
A friend or family member can know that you’ve entered the vehicle, who is driving, and approximately when you should arrive.
You don’t need to share every routine trip if you don’t want to.
Use the feature when it makes sense for your circumstances.
Keep your phone charged.
Your phone is the connection to the rideshare platform, your trip information, navigation, communication, and potentially emergency assistance.
A nearly dead battery can become a much larger problem when you’re traveling somewhere unfamiliar.
If you’re expecting to use rideshare services throughout the day or evening, carrying a portable battery can be useful.
Be thoughtful about the personal information you share during the ride.
Friendly conversation between passengers and drivers is common and can make the trip enjoyable. You don’t need to treat ordinary conversation as suspicious.
But you also don’t need to tell a stranger that you live alone, that your home will be empty for several weeks, exactly where you work every day, or other personal information you would rather keep private.
You control how much you share.
If a driver’s questions become overly personal or make you uncomfortable, you can politely change the subject or stop engaging.
Your boundaries don’t require an explanation.
Alcohol deserves particular attention because rideshare services are frequently used after people have been drinking.
Using a rideshare instead of driving impaired is a responsible decision, but intoxication can also reduce awareness and judgment.
Before getting into the vehicle, take the same few seconds to verify the license plate, vehicle, and driver that you would if you were completely sober.
Friends should look out for one another.
If someone is significantly impaired, don’t simply place them in a vehicle and assume the problem is solved.
Make sure they’re entering the correct rideshare. Share the trip information when appropriate and confirm that they reach their destination safely.
When possible, highly impaired passengers may be safer traveling with a trusted friend rather than alone.
Parents should establish rideshare expectations with teenagers and young adults who use these services.
Teach them to verify the vehicle and driver every time, share trip information when appropriate, wear a seat belt, protect personal information, and contact a trusted adult if something doesn’t seem right.
Safety habits work best when they’re established before an uncomfortable situation occurs.
Older adults and people unfamiliar with rideshare apps may benefit from practicing the process with someone they trust.
Learn where the driver’s name, photograph, license plate, vehicle description, trip-sharing tools, and safety features appear in the app.
Technology should make transportation easier, not create pressure to rush through something you don’t understand.
Travelers should be particularly attentive when using rideshare services in unfamiliar cities.
Airports, cruise terminals, train stations, and tourist districts can have specific pickup areas or transportation rules.
Follow signs and instructions for legitimate rideshare pickup locations rather than accepting an unsolicited ride from someone who approaches you.
Be cautious when someone claims that your requested driver canceled and offers to take you instead.
Confirm changes through the rideshare app itself.
Don’t rely solely on what a stranger tells you.
The same applies if someone asks you to cancel the ride in the app and pay them directly.
Moving a trip outside the platform can affect the records and protections associated with the original rideshare transaction.
If a driver asks you to make a change you’re uncomfortable with, you can decline and arrange another ride.
Your destination deserves consideration too.
If you’re uncomfortable having a driver stop directly in front of your residence, you may choose another appropriate nearby drop-off point when circumstances allow.
However, don’t create additional risk by getting out somewhere isolated simply to avoid revealing your exact address.
Choose the option that makes the most sense for the situation.
When approaching your destination, gather your belongings before leaving the vehicle.
Check the seat and floor for your phone, wallet, purse, keys, bags, and anything else you brought with you.
Leaving a phone in a rideshare can quickly become more than an inconvenience because the device may contain personal information and provide access to important accounts.
After exiting, move to a safe location before becoming absorbed in your phone.
Don’t stand in the roadway or directly beside moving traffic while rating the trip or checking messages.
If something happened during the ride that made you uncomfortable, document and report it through the appropriate rideshare service.
You don’t need to dismiss concerning behavior simply because the trip ended without anything more serious occurring.
Reporting can help the platform evaluate what happened and determine whether additional action is appropriate.
If you believe you’re in immediate danger during a ride, prioritize getting help.
Use available emergency features or contact emergency services when you can safely do so.
If it’s safe and practical to leave the vehicle in a populated location, that may be an option. Avoid actions that unnecessarily increase danger while the vehicle is moving.
A disagreement over directions, conversation, music, or another minor issue doesn’t automatically mean you’re in danger.
Try to distinguish between inconvenience and genuine safety concerns.
At the same time, don’t convince yourself to remain silent when behavior becomes threatening, aggressive, sexually inappropriate, or otherwise seriously concerning.
You aren’t required to tolerate inappropriate behavior because someone is providing transportation.
Drivers deserve safety and respect as well.
Passengers shouldn’t threaten, harass, distract, touch, or verbally abuse rideshare drivers. Don’t pressure a driver to speed, make illegal maneuvers, overload the vehicle, or ignore traffic laws because you’re running late.
A safe rideshare trip depends on responsible behavior from both sides.
Don’t ask a driver to stop somewhere dangerous simply because it’s more convenient.
Allow the driver to choose a safe location for pickup or drop-off when traffic conditions require it.
Never open a vehicle door into moving traffic without looking first.
Cyclists, motorcycles, vehicles, and pedestrians may be passing alongside the car.
Take a second to check before opening the door.
Weather can affect rideshare safety too.
Heavy rain, snow, ice, fog, and other conditions can make driving more difficult and increase travel time.
Don’t pressure the driver to move faster because you’re late.
Plan additional travel time when conditions are poor.
The same principle applies during major events and periods of heavy traffic.
A concert letting out, a sporting event ending, or a busy nightlife district can produce congestion and confusion.
Patience is part of safety.
Price can influence transportation decisions, but don’t allow a high rideshare fare to push you toward an unverified alternative.
Someone standing outside an event offering a cheaper ride isn’t automatically part of the rideshare service you requested.
If you’re using a rideshare platform, complete the trip through the platform and verify the vehicle assigned to you.
One of the strongest rideshare safety habits is consistency.
Don’t verify the license plate only when you’re traveling alone.
Don’t share a trip only when you’re frightened.
Don’t wear your seat belt only on the highway.
Develop habits that become automatic.
Check the vehicle. Check the plate. Check the driver. Wear your seat belt. Know your destination. Keep your phone available. Protect your personal information.
Most rideshare trips will be routine.
That’s exactly what you want.
Street smarts aren’t about turning every driver into a potential threat or every trip into something to fear. They’re about using the information and tools already available to you before giving someone responsibility for transporting you.
The few seconds you spend verifying your ride can prevent a much larger problem.
Before opening that car door, look at your phone, look at the vehicle, and make sure they match.
Then get in, buckle up, stay aware, and get where you’re going safely.