The wonders of ride-sharing services have certainly brought an added convenience to our life. Uber has been a model example of this around the world. Through a simple, easy to use the app, users can save money, time and stress in getting to their destination. However, like all good things, this come with a price. Riding with strangers can be a safety concern for passengers and drivers alike. Here are five things you didn’t know about rideshare safety.
1. UBER HAS CREATED AN EMERGENCY HOTLINE
With a growing number of safety concerns, Uber has created an emergency response number. At the moment, it is just labeled as a pilot program, but there have been enough complaints regarding safety that the car service has decided to do something about.
2. THEY WANT IT TO BE A SECRET
While Uber has announced the hotline will be available in over twenty cities, apparently it will be a secret. Hidden in the app, developers wanted users to discover the feature themselves. At the moment, this is just a test to resolve minor issues with drivers or lost items, but there certainly is more to it than that.
3. CRAZY PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE
The fact that Uber has been reporting high-profile cases of misuse should come of no surprise to anyone. You are no safer in a car than you would be anywhere else with a stranger. For this reason, everyone should proceed with the same caution they would on any public transportation.
4. 6,000 RAPE CASES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
According to some leaked customer service documents, nearly 6,000 Uber incidents where marked with the tag “Rape”. Of course, the car service stated the actual figures were much lower. That being said, they are certainly considered about those numbers, hence the release of this new hotline.
5. THE MEDIA LIKES TO EXXAGERRATE
Yes, reports of violence are prevalent with a variety of car and share services. As always, the media likes to blow these figures out of proportion to generate headlines. In 2015, taxi rape cases saw a six percent rise, yet ride-share services seem to be taking all the flack. The point is, exercise intelligent judgement wherever you go, and don’t let a matter like safety deter you from living your life.
