Staying Safe In Rideshares
Staying safe in rideshares is a necessity, as we go about the hustle and bustle of life. Dealing with the high end pressures of the business world, maybe you are studying at university or simply enjoying a social night out after a stressful week. Finding reliable and safe way to get from point A to point B is a necessity. A lot of women have found catching an Uber, feels more safe than say standing at a bus station or catching a train at night. While Uber offers numerous benefits and have safety measures in place. Ensuring our safety while in a ride-share is paramount, especially for young women.
When I growing up we solely relied on taxi services to get home safety after a night out. But now pre-booking or hiring a uber has become the go to method for many individuals. However this also with its own setbacks. Unfortunately it has come light that there have been many attacks in the ride-share community around the world. Which like many people has made me question are we really as safe as we think? This especially true if we travel alone.
ARE WE ACTUALLY AS SAFE AS WE FEEL
In this article, we will dive into vital safety measures you can take how to trust your instincts, practical tips for ensuring a safe journey and essential knowledge. So you can make an informed decisions about your travel. Join us as we explore the reality of Uber’s safety for women, empowering you to ride with confidence.
TIPS ON STAYING SAFE IN RIDESHARES
PHONE FULLY CHARGED
Always make sure that your mobile phone is fully charged, before calling an Uber. As an added safety measure carry a portable power bank with charger cable in your purse. If you’re waiting alone for a ride, you may attract attention from passing drivers. In such a situation, be sure to be collected in a public area with lots of lighting.
CONFIRM DRIVERS IDENTIFICATION
Once your ride arrives, do not rush to get in. Before getting into the vehicle, confirm the following details in the app:
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- Ask the driver’s name of person who they are collecting
- Check make and model of vehicle
- Ask driver his name and verify with picture I’d provided by app
- Check vehicle license plate number & take a sneaky photo
Ensure that the ride you’re about the take, matches the one you booked.
This means If any detail doesn’t match what’s shown in your app, do not get enter the vehicle and walk away. You are not obligated to provide any explanations to the driver. Staying safe in rideshares should always be your top priority.
CHECK THE DOOR HANDLES
Before starting your journey, always test to make sure the car door handles work from the inside to avoid being trapped by a child-lock or they have tampered with handle. If the handles don’t work, ask the driver why. Always trust your gut instincts – if something feels off, it’s because it is. The safest option is cancel the ride and book another one.
If you have already closed the doors and then find the handle does not work. Immediately ask the driver to let you out and be ready to press the emergency button in your app if the driver doesn’t comply with your request.
Only sit in the back seat & its safer seating directly behind the driver. One because this position makes it harder for the driver to touch you compared to if you were sitting behind the passenger seat or in the front seat. Two if you’re seated behind the driver, you have better access to the driver if you need to apply safe defence techniques in order to protect yourself. This seating choice can provide a strategic advantage in maintaining your safety. Also learning self defence skills like joint locks and choke hold would be great if you needed to save yourself in a confined space like a car.
SHARE RIDE DETAILS (staying safe in rideshares)
Use the in-app feature that enable you to share your trip details with trusted friend and family members in real-time. This includes things like the driver’s name, vehicle information, and your estimated time of arrival.
Avoid: Do not share your ride details with someone who is unable during any duration of the ride.
A good tip if you’re travelling alone is subtly letting the driver know you’re sharing your ride details with someone. Something in the lines of, “Can you please wait a few seconds before we start driving? I am just sharing my location with my husband who is currently policeman or another intimidating position ”
UBER APP EMERGENCY BUTTON
It is important to familiarise yourself with the safety features when taking any share ride services. As these features have an emergency button that can be used to alert authorities if needed. If you ever feel unsafe after getting into a cab, even after taking all the precautions, it is crucial to act and act quickly. Staying safe in rideshares at all costs is essential.
Whenever you travel with Uber, you’ll have access to an in-trip emergency button that will connect you to emergency services.
Here’s where to find the in-trip emergency button:
- Locate and click on the blue safety shield
- Next, tap Emergency Assistance – marked with a red alarm;
- You’ll be immediately connected to the emergency services. You’ll also be provided with your GPS location, car make and model, and license plate.
Once you are connected to the emergency dispatch agent, you will be able to share your exact location and precise vehicle information. The emergency button is there to provide you 24/7 assistance if you ever need help regardless of the situation.
SAFETY TIP FOR STAYING SAFE IN RIDESHARES
If you a female taking a Uber by yourself and at any point during the journey, something starts to feels uncomfortable. Such as the driver not following the correct route, appearing impaired, making sexual advances or ignoring your requests to stop. Please use this button. It will send your GPS location to local police without the driver knowing. The app also offers an option to call emergency services, which can help police to track your location via the GPS. Remember, your safety is paramount.
SURVIVAL TACTICS TO USE AS SELF DEFENCE
When you actually start to look at the statistics of sexual offences during rides is very alarming. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sexual-assaults-and-crashes-among-500-incidents-uber-failed-to-report-20210819-p58k4f.html and https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2019/uber-report-reveals-3-045-sexual-assaults.html
If you ever find yourself in a life threatening situations and all you have applied all other safety measures. Here are some last-resort actions you can take legally:
SCREAM
The power of your voice is more powerful than you realise. So scream, yell, be confident and loud as you can to shock the driver and force them to stop their car. Remember attacker’s are looking for compliant victims , not someone who is going to fight back.
JUMP
If screaming doesn’t get the driver to stop, then assess the speed of the car. If it’s safe, or when you feel it’s safe to jump out of the car, JUMP!
CHOKE
When screaming doesn’t work and jumping isn’t an option. You can use an item like your scarf, or even their own shirt wrap it around the drivers neck and pretend to choke them to force them to let you out.
Remember applying a choking defence on the driver while in a moving vehicle could lead to a loss of control and a crash, endangering not only their life but yours as well. However if the driver has stopped the car and has attempted to get into the backseat with you. Now is the perfect timing to apply joint locks, choke’s and strikes to face and body.
Safety Tip: I always advise my readers to read their country, state or city’s self defence laws. So you know what you can and cannot do in the eyes of the law. Remember to also advise law enforcement when give a statement that your actions were a necessary response to a life-threatening situation such as sexual assault or attempted kidnapping.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR STAYING SAFE IN RIDESHARES
The majority of perpetrators will use the tactic of catching you off guard or when you appear to be in a vulnerable position. I always state and practice to avoid or de-escalate any potential dangerous situation , rather than having if you have to fight. How you present yourself is one of the most powerful tools and I have had to apply this in other self defence scenarios myself. Confidence and body language is key. One of the best ways to prevent any verbal or physical advances from your driver, especially as a female rider or even driver, is to ooze confidence. If you look and feel like you won’t be an easy target e.g. holding eye contact, head up high and speak with confidence, your driver is likely to leave you alone. So what are some tactics I can apply.
DON’T GET ABSORBED IN YOUR MOBILE
While we all want to text message, check your social media or even thinking about work. This is not the place or time to be doing this. Make sure you’re aware of your surroundings e.g. going the right way and keeping an eye on the driver. The more time you give yourself to see any potential danger, the greater chance you give yourself to protect and execute a plan of escape.
SET CLEAR BOUNDARIES
remember you are not obligated to talk to your driver. If you’re not comfortable and they initiate a conversation, simply say, “I’m not interested in a conversation. Can you please just focus on the road.”
REMAIN VIGILANT
You do not need to share personal information like where you’re going, how your day was or if you have a partner, etc. Simply say, “I’m not comfortable sharing that information ” and keep the conversation professional and to-the-point.
Speak with authority and sit with a strong body posture. In these scenarios I will speak in low inflection, enunciate clearly, and speak louder than probably most other passengers. Because straight away, I want exude a confidence so I can be seen as having an intimidating character: Someone who is observant and especially someone who won’t go down without a fight!
FINAL THOUGHTS ON STAYING SAFE IN RIDESHARES
The best thing you can do when deciding to use a rideshare service is to use your common sense. Avoid putting yourself into any dangerous situations, and if you for any reason you begin to feel uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to ask the driver to let you out or if they the app and the car/driver doesn’t match walk away immediately. If you always prioritise your safety, you will be able to ride safely and comfortably all years to come.
Taking up martial arts training is not only a great way to your confidence, gives powerful techniques but also teaches you to build a strong mindset. Here at women aware defence let us help empower, inspire and educate you to become the best martial artist you can be.
Stay aware, Be safe and enjoy your journey.
