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…
- 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.
- Reconfirm your ride before you enter the car. Make sure its the exact car the ride sharing firm stated was coming your way.
- 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.
- 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.
- Review the driver’s ratings before entering the vehicle as bad reviews could be a red flag.
- 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.
- Allow your friends and family to track your ride. This is a feature offered by many ride shares.
- 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.
- When in doubt, stay out. If something doesn’t see right, don’t get in the car.
- 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.