Previous to the pandemic lockdown, tens of thousands and thousands of passengers have been reserving Uber and Lyfts worldwide every day.

Though nearly all of passengers made it to their vacation spot safely, in response to Uber's 2019 security report there have been 58 fatalities, 3,045 sexual assaults and 9 deadly bodily assaults reported out of 1.3 billion complete rides within the U.S. in 2018.

Throughout the pandemic, ridesharing took a big hit as transportation and commuting wants drastically decreased. Uber misplaced a reported $15.3 billion in 2019 and 2020 and Lyft suffered $4.4 billion in losses in the identical interval.

Uber Lyft Drivers Quit
A brand new survey discovered that 15 p.c of Uber and Lyft drivers have give up over excessive fuel costs. Passengers wait to board Uber automobiles at Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) on November 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.Mario Tama/Getty

Now that social distancing restrictions are starting to wind down, ridesharing is again on the rise.

After Uber reported these numbers in 2019, the corporate initiated new operations just like the Business Sharing Security Program, which shares details about sexual predators with different ridesharing firms so they don't seem to be employed as drivers or supply individuals.

Lyft up to date its driver choice course of with a extra in-depth background verify. The verify features a social safety quantity hint, a nationwide felony search, a county court docket data search, a federal felony search and a US Division of Justice 50-state intercourse offender registry search.

Lyft Dayton Police
4 Dayton youngsters face fees for killing a Lyft driver and robbing one other driver at gunpoint.Smith Assortment/Gado/Getty Photographs

Each firms require that their drivers go an preliminary background verify earlier than transporting anybody. Background checks that discover violent crimes, sexual offenses, or different vital felonies disqualify an applicant.

The businesses require driver candidates to submit a legitimate driver's license, social safety quantity, and present car insurance coverage nationwide. Moreover, particular person states might have further necessities.

Lately, Uber launched a PIN verification system to assist stop riders from getting within the flawed automobile. Riders also can name emergency companies by way of the Uber app and use an non-obligatory audio recording function in the event that they really feel unsafe.

Though each platforms have put a number of security measures in place, each platforms urge passengers to take further precautions earlier than hopping again into experience sharing.

1. Request the experience indoors

As an alternative of hailing an Uber/Lyft open air, order your experience inside to restrict the period of time together with your cellphone in your hand not monitoring your environment. This additionally decreases the probabilities for a faux rideshare to choose you up underneath false pretenses.

2. Have driver affirm your title

Earlier than hopping right into a stranger's car, have them affirm who they're choosing up. Use phrases like "Who're you right here to choose up?" and look forward to the response relatively than "Are you right here to choose up ___" and volunteering the knowledge.

3. Sit within the again each time attainable

Every time attainable, sit within the again seat, particularly if using alone. This helps be certain that passengers can safely exit on both aspect and it creates far between you and the driving force.

4. Use instinct

Belief your instincts and use your finest judgment when requesting a experience. In case you really feel unsafe, you possibly can minimize a experience brief and request one other. Going by way of the app's assist heart can land prospects with a refund for the preliminary experience.

5. Let somebody know the place you're

Whereas utilizing ridesharing companies, share your journey both by way of the app or by way of different means so that a cherished one is conscious of your location.

Lastly, ridesharing apps enable prospects to overview their experience expertise. If in case you have a great or dangerous expertise, it is price leaving a overview in order that others can see how a specific driver ranks in comparison with the others.