The management of Uber ride services has urged all its customers to stay safe while enjoying rides this festive season. Some people look forward to spending time with their loved ones this Christmas. Others would want to move swiftly between events. As a preferred ride service, the company has offered some safety tips for users so they can get around in a hassle-free way.
Wait indoors for your ride
First, Uber riders are advised to wait indoors for their rides. Customers awaiting a ride should ensure that they wait in a safe, well-lit area, preferably with someone, until the confirmed driver arrives. Members of the public are advised not to stand in the dark or have a mobile phone in clear sight outdoors. Riders should wait patiently indoors until they are notified through the app that their driver has arrived.
Check Your Ride
Secondly, Uber riders are to check that the license plate, vehicle colour, driver photo, and name- all match what's listed in the app before starting a trip.
Share your trip
Again, riders are encouraged to share their trips as they would feel more secured by keeping others informed. The information to share should include the driver's first name and vehicle information, map location in real-time, and up to five people from one’s contact list. However, customers should avoid sharing personal information with a driver via the app. Riders should disagree to take rides off the app as they would not have access to safety features if they do.
Be a backseat rider
Another safety tip is to sit in the backseat if one is riding alone. This ensures a safe exit on either side of the vehicle to avoid moving traffic. Sitting insecure the back seat also gives a rider and the driver some personal space.
Understand your safety features
Furthermore, Uber riders should always take the time to review the safety features in the app. This is important because the company has recently launched the ‘Safety Check-Up’ feature that encourages riders to utilise and turn on the safety features available in-app. The safety check-up feature also includes Trusted Contacts, Verify My Ride, and Ride Check.
In the case of an emergency, Uber's in-app emergency button is available in the safety toolkit (blue shield). The safety toolkit is located just a tap away and this feature links to the local emergency services.
In-app Help
The in-app help tool is designed to help riders get a prompt response to their queries in the shortest time possible. Users are encouraged to navigate to the "Help'' section which helps riders and driver-partners alike to communicate any concerns they may have during a trip for a rapid response. To speak with an agent, users should go to ‘Help’ in the Uber Driver app, and tap ‘Call Support’.
“Trust your instincts and judgement. If you feel something isn't right, use the safety features available to you in the App. Let us assist each other to enjoy this period as safely as possible”, Uber.