Daily Times

In the year 2010, a chauffeur-driven facility started in San Francisco.It was aimed at facilitating the commuters through the use app-based services and cashless transactions. The model has spread quickly. However, the rise of such services has also raised questions of passenger safety -particularly in countries where regulations are weak or misunderstood.

In a recent case that has caused concern worldwide, the body of Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old student, was found in a field 90 miles from Columbia several hours after she got into a car she thought was the Uber ride she had summoned.

While many people are asking ride sharing companies to improve their safety protocols, others are advocating vigilance when using such services.

In a tweet on April 4, 2019, Uber has outlined the “3 safe pick-up steps”, viz. “Match the licence plate number; Match the car make and model; Check the driver’s photo”. The company is also planning to implement more safety features, such as push notifications, to remind passengers to match the details of the car they had summoned with the one they are boarding.

People around the world are also embracing the #WhatsMyName campaign which urges users to ask drivers “What’s my name?” before getting into the car to ensure their safety. In case the driver fails to answer correctly, the rider would have the option to walk away before it is too late.

These measures are meant to ensure that one has hopped into the right car. Although this particular case calls for action and improvements solely in this direction, there are several aspects of safety of passengers using ridesharing services that need to be addressed.

Around the world people are embracing the #WhatsMyName campaign.It urges users to ensure their safety by asking drivers “What’s my name?” If the driver fails to answer correctly, the rider would have the option to walk away before it is too late

In Pakistan, incidents of harassment, assault and robbery have been commonly reported by users of Uber and Careem. However, they are seldom paid attention to.

In Samantha’s case, the rider was busy talking on phone when a black Chevrolet Impala pulled into the parking space beside her and she climbed inside without verifying the driver and car’s details provided by the service provider’s app, in this case Uber. But what should be done when one gets into a car after verifying every single detail and yet faces some sort of trouble?

A girl from Lahore reported one such incident in June 2016 saying that she had called for a car to get to work.The driver kept trying to make a conversation with her throughout the journey. Her ordeal did not end with the ride. She started receiving calls and messages from the driver’s personal number. Although she did not respond to any of the messages, she continued to be harassed for a couple of days.

In another incident, a woman in Karachi jumped out of a moving car in October 2018 after allegedly being harassed by the driver. Many more can be found on the internet.

These commuters were fortunate in that they were either dropped off at their desired destination without suffering physical harm or were vigilant enough to timely jump out of the vehicle. It can get worse.

The police investigation in Samantha’s case revealed that the child safety locks in the Impala were activated.This makes it difficult for the back doors to be opened from the inside. Drivers in other countries too have been in several cases where this was done.

A girl was reportedly robbed at gunpoint by a Careem captain in September 2018 in a sparsely populated area of Karachi. She was not harmed physically.

In New Delhi, it became much worse. Uber had to suspend its service in the city after a 26-year-old woman was taken to a secluded area and raped.

Such cases show that the app-based taxi services are not without risks although they improve commuters’ convenience in countries with inadequate public transport.

There have been a raft of proposals for improving safety including installation of dash cams and distress alarms and keeping the indoor light on for after-dark hours. There is still a case for effective implementation of the already available options like real-time checking of driver’s ID and ‘share your ETA’ features.

Drivers, for their part, should be required to attend mandatory seminars on harassment and made aware of the consequences of unacceptable behaviour.

The most important precaution always is watchfulness on the part of the passenger. A careful checking of the details might have saved Samantha Josephson. A mindful action taken at the right time can save you as well. Sometimes following your intuition is the biggest favour you can do to yourself.

The author is a freelance columnist and blogger