10 RIDE SHARE SAFETY TIPS

You’re getting ready for a night out with your friends. You yell up to your roommates,

“Is it warm enough to wear a skirt?” 

Then together you head out to the bars, have a few drinks, maybe dance. And even though the lights haven’t come on yet, you’re ready to go, but your friends aren’t. Ah well, you call yourself an Uber and hop in the car waiting out front for you.

The next morning you wake up in your bed, maybe with a headache, but your biggest concern is whether or not you’re gonna make it to your 10:50 class.

I found myself in this narrative countless times over my four years at the University of South Carolina, and many women my age would say the same. After hearing about the horrifying recent tragedy at my alma mater, I wanted to research how I could potentially protect myself going forward.

And this applies to every woman, everywhere. Whether you’re like me here in France hitting random cities or in the US in the downtown that you know like the back of your hand— you can never be too careful. And of course: never take a taxi alone is a good rule of thumb. Though, it’s extremely impractical, because sometimes you don’t have a choice.

Here are 10 safety tips that could potentially save your life:

1. Call your rideshare from INSIDE:

   • Avoid spending unnecessary time outside alone with your phone in your hand. This makes it pretty clear that you’re waiting for an Uber, so a predator could take the opportunity to pose as one. Instead, wait indoors until the app shows you your driver has arrived.

2. Check the license plate number:

   • People often talk about the name-game. ALWAYS ask “Who are you here for?” NOT “Are you here for Hailey?” This is a good tip, however this is sometimes mistaken for you trying to steal someone else’s Uber. So instead, or in addition, check the license plate number. It’s right next to the driver’s name. I don’t know about you, I’m not great with makes and models of cars… but I can surely double check 6 letters and numbers. Once you’re in the car, compare the picture on the app to the driver’s face.

3. Snap a quick picture of the car and send it to a loved one:

   • I think this can be especially helpful for just straight taxis (what’re those???). No but seriously, when you’re traveling outside of the United States you might find yourself in one of those yellow cabs. Take a picture of the back with the license plate clear and send it off to someone you know.

4. If there’s more than one person in the car, don’t take the it:

   • I’ve been guilty of this,100%. I hop in and they have someone in the passenger seat… oh this is my friend he's just riding along with me tonight. But now this puts you in the position of two against one. Even if they seem harmless, why risk it?

5. Ride in the backseat:

   • This gives you the opportunity to safely exit on either side of the vehicle to avoid oncoming traffic. Also, don’t forget your seatbelt!

6. Sit behind the driver:

   • In the event that your driver tries to attack you, it’s easier to defend from someones blind spot.

7. Open the car window:

   • As soon as you get into the car, open the window. This gives you the option to shout and be heard, if needed.

8. Stay alert to the road:

   • I’ve been guilty of this. Eyes glued to my phone scrolling through Instagram or checking out the Snap stories from the night… But you should be watching the road to make sure you are, in-fact, heading the right direction. If you’re in a city that you are unfamiliar with, you can follow along on the application or just open Google Maps.

9. Share your trip details and ETA:

   • While you’re on your way, click the “share status” feature in the app. This will send the driver’s name, photo, license plate, and location with a friend or family member. Now they are able to track your trip and see when you will arrive. It might also be a good idea to call someone from the car. Speak loudly and clearly, and tell them you’ll be home in” X” amount of minutes. That way the driver can hear you, and now they know that someone is expecting you on the other end.

10. Follow your intuition:

    • Last but not least, follow your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, if you get that weird feeling in your stomach, get yourself out of the situation. There’s no such thing as being too careful. And sure, if you have to cancel a ride it may you may lose $5... That’s nothing compared to losing your life.

It should go without saying that in NO way am I insinuating that this horrific act was anyone’s fault but the murderer who committed the heinous crime.

I am only looking for any possible techniques that could help in future prevention. Truly, I wish that we lived in a world where we, as women, didn’t have to think about these things, but unfortunately that is not the case. At least not today.

I urge you to share the contents of this article and video with your family and friends.

I would also like to send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Samantha Josephson. To quote our university president, Harris Pastides,

“As Mr. Josephson said at last evening's campus vigil, ‘Don't ever forget her name.’ We will not. Forever to thee, Samantha.”

If you’d like to make a contribution for funeral and memorial costs: https://www.gofundme.com/samantha-lee-josephson-memorial-fund.