If you use a ride-sharing service such as Lyft or Uber, what precautions do you take to avoid being kidnapped or worse?
I’m watching an episode of Gone.
In this one, a young woman is drugged and kidnapped by a guy, who she thinks is a driver for a ride-sharing company that she’s using.
What would be some good methods of verifying that the driver is the one assigned for your ride?
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Color, make of car and license plate number. Also the driver should ask for you by your name.
Who is going to try to kidnap or worse me and why is using Lyft or Uber going to make it more likely to happen?
I check the car/driver details and don’t accept any drink or drugs from the driver.
@Zaku
The revivified corpse of Aileen Wuornos, and you never know what RSS she’s going to hijack, which is why I included the words, ”...such as….” in my question. ;-)
I am eating as much as possible, on the assumption that fat people are harder to kidnap.
But what does Lyft or Uber have to do with it? If I get kidnapped, the driver doesn’t get paid. That’s a bummer!
@SmartAZ
I’m referring to any RSS, not just those two.
I used uber once, a few months ago.
I was utterly stupid about it. I called twice for a cab and none showed. I was at a taxi stop for an event. A man in a van told me he was an uber driver, and did I want to have him take me home.
I was exhausted and frustrated, and totally set myself up to be a victim. To top it off, I am disabled, with no hope of escaping an attacker. He got me home, helped me up the steps, and I paid him. After a few ounces of Dew, and a smoke, I was kicking myself from here to the horizon.
@Patty_Melt
You got a safe ride home and you subsequently learned a valuable lesson, so I don’t think there was any need for self-kicking.
I don’t use Uber or Lyft so far. Makes me nervous.
I guess what I would do is maybe call someone as soon as I get in the car and talked so the driver could hear me. “Red Kia Sportage driving on I40 mile marker 122.”
I don’t use those things.
Here in my country services like this favors motorcycles, because the streets are small and motorcycles are more common than cars. I usually go out with my motorcycle, so why do I feel the need to call a motorcycle?
But I guess there will be an indicator of where the driver is on your phone. There is even a live tracking of the car. You only need to look in your phone to know whether that’s your driver.
It never once occurred to me before this question that I might be a kidnapping candidate. I view the possibility so unlikely that I’m certain to forget about it before my next lyft ride.
@stanleybmanly That’s the difference between being a man and a woman. Most women are constantly aware of the possibility of being harmed. We are told to never get into the car. Once in the car you’re likely raped and dead. Better to risk getting shot trying to get away.
@Mimishu1995
”...so why do I feel the need to call a motorcycle?”
I understand. Most motorcycles only communicate with humans by text. ;-)
No precautions at all. So far, at least, I haven’t needed any.
I usually sit in the front seat, which I think is inherently safer.
@JLeslie I feel badly for the precautions women feel necessary for their safety, but realistically what do you suppose the odds are of a woman being molested by a lyft or taxi driver. She is probably hundreds of times more likely to be killed by a collision during the ride or walking to and from the car.
@stanleybmanly I don’t worry about taxi drivers that work for a company, although there probably is a miniscule risk with them too.
I heard there is some sort of all female company like Uber. That sounds like a good idea.
@stanleybmanly the chances are greater than 0 that a Lyft or Uber driver will misbehave. I think the important comparison is against ‘regular’ taxi drivers. What are the numbers with them?
As said above, look for all the details about the car you drive. Make sure the driver knows your name before you get in. I also do not use my photo in my Lyft profile (I use my dog’s photo). This way the driver has to ask, “Are you CookieMan?” Sometimes they’ll make a comment about my dog. This way I know they’re the actual ride I called. I also sit in the front seat.
One be be frightened of everything or one can live their lives cautiously but bravely. You know the car that is coming, they have a sign, they know your name and they are trying to make money. One could be kidnapped anywhere. I have used Lyft in California and here and had only positive experiences.
I agree with the cautious sentiment. No point in being paranoid and make life unreasonably difficult.
When lyft notifies you that a driver is on the way they tell you the make and color of the car as well as the driver’s first name.
That’s what guns are for!
I think the lesson to be learnt is not to avoid taxis but to avoid drinking to the point of unconsciousness.
Same as when I take cab rides. Nothing.
Yeah, I don’t do anything other than make sure it’s the right car and driver. I just trust that once I’ve confirmed that they’re not going to kill or rape me, but can’t rule out the possibility. I’m more worried about them getting into an accident than I am about them being a criminal. One time an accident happened right in front of our car. It was pretty freaky.
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