Hailing a ride on Uber or Lyft? Here’s what to know to stay safe.

An Uber driver picks up passengers at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, Calif., July 15, 2024. Uber and other ride-hailing apps have introduced safety features that allow passengers to call for help discreetly as well as share their location with friends and family members. (Jim Wilson/The New York Times)

By CLAIRE FAHY

Despite Uber’s claims that it was one of the safest available travel options, the ride-hailing company received a report of sexual misconduct or sexual assault once every eight minutes or so between 2017 and 2022, The New York Times reported last summer.

Many riders, both in the article and in the comments section, said they had followed safety tips like those previously shared by the Times, such as making sure the license plate matched what appeared on the app. Even though these tips remain valid, many riders still found themselves in uncomfortable or unsafe situations, leading to questions about what safety practices they should adopt.

“A lot of the old rules still apply,” said Bryant Greening, a lawyer who works with accident and assault victims and is a co-founder of the Chicago-based law firm Legalrideshare.com. But, he added, many ride-hailing apps have added more safety features that can help mitigate your personal risk.

Here are additional things to know about staying safe when using app-based ride services.

Share your trip

Most ride-hailing apps now offer a feature to share your trip with someone outside the car, Greening said. On the Uber app, this is called “Share My Trip,” and it allows riders to select up to five people from their contact lists with whom to share their trip details as well as their real-time location.

“If you’re in a car with somebody who’s giving you any sort of bad vibe, and you make a casual comment saying, ‘My wife is following the trip on the app,’ that’s going to provide some level of deterrence, some level of accountability,” Greening said.

According to a blog post by another personal injury law firm, Sokolove Law, it can also be a good idea to send a screenshot of your trip details to friends or family. That way, if a driver cancels your ride and the trip information disappears from the app, there is still a record.

Familiarize yourself with the app

Many apps have built-in safety measures and discreet ways to call for help, Greening said.

Both Lyft and Uber have partnerships with the security company ADT, according to Sokolove Law. On the Lyft app, for example, ADT provides round-the-clock live support, including sharing trip details with authorities and calling for help. During emergencies, riders can also call 911 directly through the app, saving precious time and allowing customers to seek help without attracting attention.

“Having those features literally at your fingertips can be lifesaving,” Greening said. “So knowing where they are and how to access them ahead of time is common-sense safety.”

Don’t give away personal information

Ride-hailing apps do a good job of shielding both drivers’ and riders’ personal information from each other, Greening said, noting that the apps usually have them contact each other through built-in messaging services. Drivers have riders’ personal information, such as their cellphone numbers, only if riders share it — often to let the driver know where they are during a pickup.

But, Greening said, it’s best to stick with the app when communicating with drivers.

“If you call the driver through the app, your number is not going to show up on that driver’s phone,” Greening said, meaning the driver won’t be able to save your contact information for later use.

Sokolove Law also recommends keeping other information, such as where you work, to yourself while chatting with a driver.

“The driver may use this information to stalk or harass you in the future, even if they didn’t seem dangerous during your ride together,” the blog post said.

Choose highly rated drivers

Screen for drivers with high ratings on the app, Greening said. The two-way rating systems allow the driver and the rider to score each other on ride quality, he said, which is a benefit compared with a traditional taxi.

“There are enough drivers on the road that you don’t need to compromise your safety to get in a car with a lower-rated driver,” Greening said. “There’s no benefit in choosing the three-star driver over the five-star driver.”

Additionally, if something feels strange during a ride, share your experience on the app by giving the driver lower stars or providing a comment.

“If something is off about your experience, leaving that feedback goes a long way to creating a safer environment for everyone,” Greening said.