Ridesharing has dramatically changed the personal transportation industry, allowing customers to secure a car with the tap of a button or a finger swipe.
All one needs is a smartphone and an app, and within minutes, a car arrives at the desired location and whisks passengers away to their final destination.
But while all of this sounds really convenient, there is a rising safety concern amongst passengers, in light of incidents that continue to occur - something that the rideshare companies and lawmakers have continuously strived to address.
Uber shares safety tips with passengers Source: YouTube
Uber, a dominant force in the Australian market with about 4.3 million Australians aged 14 and above using their services on average in three months, told SBS Punjabi that for them, ‘safety comes first’.
“At Uber, we are continuing to build cutting-edge technology and features to help improve safety for riders and driver-partners on the app,” said a spokesperson.
While the ridesharing giant said it conducts a thorough screening and background check on all its drivers, it also shared some important safety tips that riders must be aware of before hopping into the car.
1)Request your ride inside: Minimise the time you’re standing outside by yourself, wait indoors until the app shows that your driver has arrived.
2)Check your ride: Make sure you’re getting into the right car with the right driver by matching the license plate, car make and model, and driver photo with what’s provided in your app.
3)Be a back-seat rider: Whenever possible, sit in the back seat, especially if you’re riding alone.
4)Share your trip details with loved ones: Tap 'share trip status' in the app, which includes driver and vehicle details, location with a friend or family member.
5)Protect your account with two-step verification controls: This helps prevent someone else from logging into your account, even if they have your password.
6)Follow your intuition: Anytime you ever feel that you’re in an urgent situation, you can call emergency services by using the emergency button located in your app.
7)Give feedback about your trip: Don’t forget to provide feedback at the end of your trip.
Man booking a ride using ridesharing service. Source: Ola Australia/Facebook
Here are some safety tips from Ola:
1)Emergency button: Riders have access to a 24/7 emergency button on the app
2)Get into the right vehicle: Customers should always check they are getting into the right car by matching driver’s details in the app with the car type and license plate.
3)Share trip details: A share detail button allows riders to share their trip details with their family members or friends that allow them to track their journey in real time.
