By now, you may have heard about the death of 21-year-old Samantha Josephson. Josephson was an energetic and promising senior attending the University of South Carolina. How did she die? After hailing an Uber, which she would take home following a night out with friends, Josephson entered the vehicle of a total stranger, mistaking him for her Uber driver. What happened to Josephson is a terrifying tragedy and a parent’s worst nightmare. Josephson is not the first rideshare service user to run into a horrific experience like this. There have been several rideshare “horror stories” reported in recent years, prompting the discussion of whether these commuting services are safe or not. As convenient as these services are, there is no denying how risky they have proven to be. Should these services be taken away? Should rideshare companies be required to increase security for customers and employees? Are there no changes needed at all? I’ll let you be the judge.

We’ll begin by returning to the story of Samantha Josephson. At around 2 a.m. on March 29, Josephson requested an Uber to take her home following a night out with friends. Josephson, who was just weeks away from her college graduation, would never make it home. Josephson got into a vehicle she had mistaken for her Uber and was found dead in a field just outside of town 14 hours later.

After doing some research, I discovered that rideshare policies are determined on an individual basis by each city. It also appears that rideshare companies have no mandate to label their vehicles for proper identification. In an interview between Aaron Fields, a writer with Kxnet.com, and a few local college students, Fields discovered some startling information regarding rideshare service usage in the area.

“What do you do before you get in an Uber?” Fields asked.
“I usually don’t ask for a name or look for a sticker on a car. I usually don’t do that,” the student, Faze, responded.
Fields then sat down with an Uber driver to acquire some information on how Uber drivers identify themselves to passengers.
“I have never been told or given any direction on that I never needed to put anything on my car,” Uber and Lyft Driver Tammie Vail said.

According to Uber’s website, “Partners are not required to display an Uber decal when online and accepting trips.” This fact, as well as the tragic death of their young daughter, is what prompted Samantha Josephson’s parents to call for the passing of a bill that will require better rideshare vehicle identification.

Josephson’s parents are advocating for additional action, such as adding QR codes or bar codes on vehicle windows, allowing customers to scan and confirm the vehicle matches the order. “I’m not saying to change all the states and make it mandatory,” Josephson’s father said. “But if you’re going to be in the ridesharing industry, then you should have a front license plate.” But shouldn’t these policies and procedures be mandatory? Incidents like Josephson’s would argue the need for a universal rideshare mandate. What we need is something firm and reliable to cut down and possibly eliminate the number of deaths and close calls resulting from not only poor vehicle identification, but insufficient driver screening and assessment.

In another case, Lyft user Anna Gillcrist shares the story of a very uncomfortable and scary incident that occurred when her driver refused to let her exit his vehicle and began harassing her. Gillcrist starts by describing her experience while taking a Lyft home from a friend’s bachelorette party. What seemed like a safer scenario, as Gillcrist was in the Lyft with about two or three other passengers, turned into a frightening and unsettling experience for Gillcrist once the other passengers reached their destinations.

“Once they were dropped off, the driver immediately leaned over to me and asks ‘do you have a boyfriend?’ I paused, and didn’t respond.” Gillcrist said.

Gillcrist’s horrific experience would not end there. At some point, the driver pulled onto her street and started driving “very slowly.” He then asked her if her boyfriend was home. It is unclear as to whether or not Gillcrist responded to this prompt, but things would escalate when the driver refused to unlock the car doors at Gillcrist’s request.

After asking a few more inappropriate and personal questions, Gillcrist “pried the lock up, jumped out of the car, and ran” to her apartment.

Gillcrist brought the incident to the attention of Lyft Customer Service, and upon doing so, was issued a $5 credit and a promise that the driver would be “reprimanded.” Today, Gillcrist still awaits acknowledgment of her formal statement as well as an official incident report, which Lyft guaranteed Gillcrist she would receive once they disciplined the driver. It is clear that Lyft had not taken the situation seriously.

In Sacramento, California, three friends spoke out after experiencing a traumatizing 30-minute Uber ride. Theadora Fuerstenberg recounts an incident with an unruly Uber driver who drove erratically and did not follow directions home. “He would swerve in and out [of the lanes] and then as he was doing this he would say ‘We’re all going to die now.’ I legitimately believed that we were going to die,” Fuerstenberg said.

Fuerstenberg’s friends- sitting in the back seat of the vehicle- phoned 911 dispatchers. Once the driver exited the highway, the three girls noticed the car doors were unlocked and made a hasty exit.

“The disturbing behavior the riders reported will not be tolerated,” Uber said in a statement made to KTXL. “We removed this driver’s access to the app shortly after we learned of the incident and stand ready to work with police.”

Dozens of incidents like Gillcrist’s have occurred with the rising popularity of rideshare services. It would take several different posts to detail them all. Rideshare companies claim to be making strides to increase the safety of their services, as it has become painfully clear that there is a lack of protection.

In Massachusetts, Representative Michael Moran wants to force every rideshare driver to undergo fingerprinting background checks. However, from a different perspective, CNN issued a report finding 103 Uber drivers accused of sexual assault or abuse in the U.S., and 31 drivers convicted of a crime as a result, out of some 3 million Uber drivers and over four years of reporting. Unfortunately, taxi cabs are not proven to be any safer.

So what can be done to reduce and even prevent future crimes associated with ridesharing? The most effective methods of prevention lie within the control of each passenger.

Tip 1: I genuinely hope this is something you have already been doing if you are an Uber, Lyft, or even a taxi frequenter– always check the make, model, and license plate number for your ride. All this takes is a quick trip to the back of the vehicle.

Tip 2: Always confirm that the driver of the vehicle you are entering has identified themselves and match up with the driver you are expecting. Do not accept the driver asking if you are waiting for an Uber. A passenger should be asking their driver to identify themselves. I don’t think there is anything wrong with asking to see a driver’s identification. Only those with something to hide will have an issue with that.

Tip 3: If possible, try to rideshare with a group! There is strength in numbers. Even if the other passengers are heading to separate destinations, having them present for a while may reduce the amount of time you spend gritting your teeth and saying prayers in the back seat of the vehicle.

Tip 4: If anything– and I do mean anything – seems off about your driver or their vehicle, do not be afraid to decline the trip and wait for another ride. I do not use Uber or Lyft services, so I cannot speak to what refusing a ride once the driver arrives will do to your account standing or passenger rating, but I do know that whatever that cost is, it is inconsequential to the value of your life!

It is hard to say if there is a sure way to remove the risk and danger associated with rideshare services. With all the bills and regulations in process, there may be a sure way soon. As with most things, you should not rely on anyone or anything to ensure your safety for you. Be diligent with your checks. Stay alert. Being observant and aware could be the difference between a safe ride and your last ride.

 

Header image courtesy of www.cosmopolitan.com

1. https://www.kxnet.com/good-day-dakota/college-student-s-murder-spurs-discussion-for-uber-and-lyft-safety/1910934409. Accessed, 15 April 2019.

2. https://perezhilton.com/lyft-twitter-woman-harassed-driver/. Accessed, 15 April 2019.

3. https://wreg.com/2018/08/16/women-say-uber-driver-terrorized-them-during-25-minute-nightmare-ride/. Accessed, 15 April 2019.

4. https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/04/09/youre-uber-safe-when-it-comes-to-hailing-rides/. Accessed, 15 April 2019.

5. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-stay-safe-every-uber-ride-2019-4. Accessed, 15 April 2019.