Millions of Americans prefer ridesharing to traditional taxis and bus services. They love the convenience of summoning cars to their locations on their smartphones. Rideshare apps usually have transparent, upfront pricing, which minimizes last-minute surprises. These vehicles are available on demand at any time of the day.
The rise of ridesharing apps offering app-based rides and cashless transactions has introduced a new trend of harassment and assault. Some apps might share client data with third parties, risking their finances and identity. Clients and drivers seeking rideshares should consider apps that allow them to rate services, call for help during emergencies, and share trip data. Many ridesharing platforms prioritize safety and have adopted these five features to keep everyone safe.
1. In-app Emergency Assistance
Ridesharing apps are all fun until a driver or passenger encounters incidents of sexual, verbal, or physical harassment. Some drivers might threaten to drop you off when you reject their sexual demands. Sometimes, rogue clients might verbally or physically assault drivers who fail to give in to their pricing demands or sexual advances.
Protecting yourself in rideshares requires being alert to unsafe behaviors and leveraging in-app emergency assistance. The in-app assistant offers clients and drivers instant access to help, especially when they encounter threats. The app connects you with emergency services and shares trip status, real-time vehicle location, and driver information. Such critical data helps emergency services locate those in need faster, minimizing potential risks and harm. Emergency assistance discourages unsafe behaviors among clients and drivers.
2. Two-way Feedback and Rating System
Ridesharing is a mutual arrangement in which the driver agrees to transport the client for a fee. Both parties should adhere to safe and respectful conduct. Many ridesharing apps allow parties to leave service ratings. Getting several low ratings and negative feedback can lead to account deactivation.
Drivers must offer safe and polite service while clients behave responsibly to uphold credible operations. The two-way rating and feedback system helps build trust and establish communities where everyone’s needs are respected and met. Clients can view driver ratings before committing to a ride, reducing the feeling of uncertainty. Drivers can check client ratings, ensuring they avoid troublesome customers.
3. Share Your Trip
Theft, kidnapping, and violence incidents have become rampant in the ridesharing industry. Cases of drivers found stranded in unfriendly locations after their cars got stolen are high. Also, incidents of drivers kidnapping their clients or stealing their possessions have increased. All these occurrences would decrease when drivers and passengers leverage the share your trip in many ridesharing apps.
The feature lets passengers share up-to-minute data about their trip with trusted contacts. It lets family and friends monitor the ride, tracking crucial data like arrival time and route. That ensures safety when traveling in unfamiliar areas or riding at night. Also, drivers can share their trip data with other drivers and their friends, facilitating quick location in case of security threats.
4. GPS Tracking
Ridesharing companies keep track of all their employee activities. They require such data to track miles traveled and calculate driver earnings. Also, real-time tracking ensures that ridesharing managers can record the trip’s routes. Access to accurate data facilitates timely and efficient responses to incidents, helping streamline dispute resolution.
GPS tracking adds a security layer to the ridesharing experience because family and friends can track the ride’s progress via shared trip updates. That promotes safety reassurance for late-night or solo rides. GPS guidance lets drivers follow more efficient and safe routes to the next destination.
GPS tracking provides data to locate vehicles and passengers during medical emergencies and breakdowns. Emergency responders and the ride-hailing company can utilize the data to find the cars and offer immediate assistance.
5. Real-time ID Verification
Many security threats in the ridesharing industry happen when the original drivers who registered with the app give their cars to other drivers. Because the identity data of those drivers is unavailable in the ridesharing company databases, they use the original drivers as the scapegoats. Ride-hailing companies noticed that trend and its harm to their businesses and customers, initiating real-time ID verification. Drivers have to periodically update their identity by uploading a selfie. The companies compare such selfies with profile photos using facial recognition technology.
Real-time ID verification is fast, seamless, and efficient, ensuring ride-hailing companies maintain up-to-minute driver records. That prevents situations where unauthorized persons utilize the accounts to commit crimes. The feature assures the quality and safety of rides. Passengers know that the drivers they summon are trustworthy and are under obligation to respect and treat them with care. They will seldom worry about fraudulent drivers taking advantage of their naivety to abuse or mishandle them.
Real-time ID verification protects the driver’s accounts while maintaining their professional reputation. Preventing unauthorized access to driver profiles means nobody can misuse the driver credentials for illicit activities. Routine verifications guarantee a safer working environment free from malicious actors who might want to invade the rides for criminal gains.
Wrapping Up
Ridesharing is an efficient way to enjoy rides around town for a cost lower than taxis. Yet, the increased adoption has led to higher safety hazards among drivers and passengers. Ride-hailing companies can utilize the above safety features to strengthen the safety and peace of drivers and passengers. Sharing trip data through advanced functions and GPS tracking guarantees assistance during emergencies. Two-way Feedback and ID verification eliminate chances of malicious actors using driver and passenger accounts for criminal activities.