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Tuesday, 02 April 2019 19:26

How to Uber and ride share safely

Written by Dr. Daliah Wachs
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As kids we were taught to never approach a stranger, and to NEVER get in the car of a stranger.  Yet with ride sharing services exploding over the last few years we’ve let our guard down.  And the kidnapping and murder of a 21-year-old college student who jumped into the back seat of a car, whom she thought was an Uber diver, shed light on how we as a society need to remind ourselves of stranger danger. So here are some safety tips when considering ride sharing…

 

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  1. Always travel in groups. Single riders are more at risk of kidnapping, so avoid being at risk of being outnumbered by having more of your friends with you.
  2. Reconfirm your ride before you enter the car. Make sure its the exact car the ride sharing firm stated was coming your way.
  3. Wait for your ride indoors or next to people you know. Some Uber drivers may run late and you don’t want to be vulnerable standing alone outdoors.
  4. Backseat is preferable as assaults can happen the front seat,

    but be aware that the driver could have control of child safety locks preventing you from leaving the vehicle.

  5.  Review the driver’s ratings before entering the vehicle as bad reviews could be a red flag.
  6. Don’t give the driver your credit card or any personal information as ride sharing services handle the transaction for you in an encrypted manner.
  7. Allow your friends and family to track your ride. This is a feature offered by many ride shares.
  8. Track your own ride using GPS. If the driver goes off the beaten path to get to your destination that could be a red flag.
  9. When in doubt, stay out. If something doesn’t see right, don’t get in the car.
  10. Call 911 the second you think something is wrong.

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Daliah Wachs is a guest contributor to GCN news, her views and opinions, medical or otherwise, if expressed, are her own. Doctor Wachs is an MD,  FAAFP and a Board Certified Family Physician.  The Dr. Daliah Show , is nationally syndicated M-F from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm and Saturday from Noon-1:00 pm (all central times) at GCN.

 

Last modified on Tuesday, 02 April 2019 19:29