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Prior to the pandemic lockdown, tens of millions of passengers were booking Uber and Lyfts worldwide each day.
Although the majority of passengers made it to their destination safely, according to Uber's 2019 safety report there were 58 fatalities, 3,045 sexual assaults and nine fatal physical assaults reported out of 1.3 billion total rides in the U.S. in 2018.
During the pandemic, ridesharing took a significant hit as transportation and commuting needs drastically decreased. Uber lost a reported $15.3 billion in 2019 and 2020 and Lyft suffered $4.4 billion in losses in the same period.
Now that social distancing restrictions are beginning to wind down, ridesharing is back on the rise.
After Uber reported those numbers in 2019, the company initiated new operations like the Industry Sharing Safety Program, which shares information about sexual predators with other ridesharing companies so they aren't hired as drivers or delivery people.
Lyft updated its driver selection process with a more in-depth background check. The check includes a social security number trace, a nationwide criminal search, a county court records search, a federal criminal search and a US Department of Justice 50-state sex offender registry search.
Both companies require that their drivers pass an initial background check before transporting anyone. Background checks that find violent crimes, sexual offenses, or other significant felonies disqualify an applicant.
The companies require driver applicants to submit a valid driver's license, social security number, and current vehicle insurance nationwide. Additionally, individual states may have extra requirements.
Recently, Uber introduced a PIN verification system to help prevent riders from getting in the wrong car. Riders can also call emergency services through the Uber app and use an optional audio recording feature if they feel unsafe.
Although both platforms have put several safety measures in place, both platforms urge passengers to take additional precautions before hopping back into ride sharing.
1. Request the ride indoors
Instead of hailing an Uber/Lyft outdoors, order your ride inside to limit the amount of time with your phone in your hand not monitoring your surroundings. This also decreases the chances for a fake rideshare to pick you up under false pretenses.
2. Have driver confirm your name
Before hopping into a stranger's vehicle, have them confirm who they are picking up. Use phrases like "Who are you here to pick up?" and wait for the response rather than "Are you here to pick up ___" and volunteering the information.
3. Sit in the back whenever possible
Whenever possible, sit in the back seat, especially if riding alone. This helps ensure that passengers can safely exit on either side and it creates some distance between you and the driver.
4. Use intuition
Trust your instincts and use your best judgment when requesting a ride. If you feel unsafe, you can cut a ride short and request another. Going through the app's help center can land customers with a refund for the initial ride.
5. Let someone know where you are
While using ridesharing services, share your trip either through the app or through other means so that a loved one is aware of your location.
Finally, ridesharing apps allow customers to review their ride experience. If you have a good or bad experience, it's worth leaving a review so that others can see how a particular driver ranks compared to the others.
