Many residents of Louisiana enjoy the convenience of ride-sharing services, such as Uber or Lyft. These companies allow riders to quickly and easily get places without having to worry about finding parking. While there are potential risks to using a ride-sharing service, there are several simple steps riders may follow to drastically reduce those issues.
Ride-sharing services are becoming more popular in most areas of the country. According to data from a 2018 Pew Research Center survey, over one-third of Americans indicated that they had used ride-sharing services. This number represents a significant increase in the three years since the 2015 survey, where only 15% of people stated they had used such a service.
Many people have concerns about the safety of using ride-sharing services. While it is easy to spot traditional taxis, some people find it harder to verify the identity of a legitimate ride-sharing vehicle and driver. Ride-sharing brands may not be able to settle a rider’s concern over poor service in the same way as a taxi company does. Some people worry about criminals who pose as ride-sharing drivers to find victims.
CNN offers several tips to help individuals use ride-sharing services safely. Most ride-sharing providers include numerous details about the driver and car to help a rider identify the right vehicle. Riders should check the car’s make, model and plate numbers and the driver’s name and appearance against the information in the app. Individuals may also find routing information using their own GPS or navigation apps. If the driver’s route does not match, individuals may use the app’s reporting function to indicate that something is wrong. Riders may keep themselves safe throughout each trip by maintaining awareness and following basic safety tips.