Introduction
If you have ever driven for any ridesharing companies, you know that every ride can be a bit nerve-wracking. You’re putting your own vehicle, insurance, and finances on the line to help other people make it from point A to point B.
Whether there is a language barrier, personal space issues, or an overall rude demeanour during the drive, chances are that at some point, you’ve felt threatened in some way by your ridesharing passengers.
There will be times when you feel threatened or unsafe while rideshare driving. This can happen when you pick up the wrong customer, take a longer ride than you wanted, or are involved in an accident.
While most people try not to let unusual circumstances get them flustered or upset, they still may feel panic rising within when they find themselves in a panicked state.
As an independent contractor, you are not required to work exclusively for a ridesharing company and can drive with other companies if you choose.
While you’re not protected by the ridesharing company’s workers’ compensation insurance, you may be able to receive money damages from the parties responsible for your injuries. If you feel unsafe on a transportation vehicle, here are some tips for protecting yourself:
Cancel the Ride
If you find yourself on a ride with an uncomfortable passenger who is not behaving badly but just “creepy” or giving you a bad feeling, then your best bet is to cancel the ride and accept the cancellation fee.
Or, if they haven’t already been charged, navigate to “Stop Arrival Clock”, select “I Can’t Continue”, and select “Passenger Problem” as your reason for cancelling.
The minute you pull over and tell them you’re balancing the ride, end the trip in your app so that you don’t get hit with a late cancellation fee – be sure to explain why so that the ridesharing company you work with knows how to handle the situation.
Most of the time, the ridesharing companies will not penalize you for cancelling if it’s clear that someone is making you uncomfortable.
Call 911
If someone is belligerent, threatening, or behaving erratically, end the trip immediately. If they are getting physical or aggressive, pull over and call 911. Once they have gotten out of your vehicle and are out of sight, contact 911.
If they are still in your car when you pull over to call 911, do not attempt to physically remove them from your vehicle – simply request that they leave your vehicle.
Your safety is paramount. In all the instances above, communicate with the passenger as much as possible, preserving a record of what happened. If you feel threatened, unsafe, or uncomfortable at any point during a ride, it’s okay to end the ride early.
If a fellow rider is threatening physical harm, try to steer the vehicle to a safe place before stopping it.
When you end a trip if you drop off a passenger who is coming home alone late at night, put on your hazard lights and lock all doors until they enter their residence. Once they are safely inside, you can close the app and drive away.
When possible, try not to drive alone at night – use rideshare partner programs that allow drivers to share rides with fellows.
As a ridesharing driver, it’s essential to minimize any potential threats and be prepared if you encounter a situation that makes you uncomfortable. The following tips can help make driving a vehicle with a ridesharing app safer for both you and your passengers.
Avoid driving to locations that are isolated or unfamiliar.
When ending a trip, after you drop off a passenger, turn on your hazard lights and lock all doors until they enter their residence. Then, end the trip and drive away immediately.
Don’t pick up passengers who appear intoxicated or aggressive. If you believe they are, politely decline the ride when they request it and recommend another mode of transportation.
If you feel threatened by a passenger during a ride, look for safe areas to pull over (gas stations, police stations, well-lit regions).
When stopped, stay inside the vehicle and lock all doors. Ask the passenger what is going on and anything you can do to make them more comfortable. If needed, call 911 for assistance.
Report to your Rideshare Company
If you ever feel threatened during a ride, remember you can always report the ride to your rideshare company.
Reporting the ride allows you and your rider to provide feedback about their experience. More importantly, it will enable your rideshare company to learn more about what happened during your ride and respond appropriately.
Riders can report unsafe driving habits, and drivers can report disruptive or violent behaviour. Either party can also rate the other based on their interaction. The rating system is designed to help riders and drivers make informed decisions about which driver/rider they’d like to request/accept a ride with.
In severe cases where there may be criminal activity, you should always contact local law enforcement.
Conclusion
There are ways to stop a rider from being a threat to you. Make sure that your reputation will not be damaged in the process. The following are some strategies for dealing with these situations.
To sum up, use your best judgement when a rider leaves you feeling threatened. If the rider is drunk or belligerent but doesn’t appear to be an actual threat to you or anyone else, take down their name and cancel the ride.
Stay calm, especially if you’re nervous about the situation. There’s nothing that a passenger can do to hurt you while you’re driving, and they will quickly move on to another driver if they know that you are unwilling to fulfill their demands.
You may even wish to contact the police when you feel threatened or have your passenger call the police for you. If the police are called when you have a passenger, they are likely to ask to see your license and registration.
If the rider plans to attack you, call 911 immediately and request a police escort to your final destination. Finally, if there is a threat of bodily harm, do not engage with the rider no matter how angry they become.