Ridesharing Safety
Ridesharing programs need to provide users with safety information and resources to address concerns about sharing a car with a stranger.
Program Safety Measures:
- Programs should set up a rating system so users can rate one another on the safety and punctuality of their rideshare experience.
- Programs should have user preferences (e.g., women who would like to ride only with women).
- Driver profiles should include vehicle color, make, model and license plate number.
Individual Safety Measures:
- Participants should carefully review each other's profile before agreeing to rideshare.
- Riders should verify that the driver's posted vehicle information matches the vehicle they are picked up in.
- Participants should check one another's picture IDs before getting into the car.
- Riders should email or text the driver's vehicle information and their ride time to a friend, and check in when the ride is complete. On long rides, participants should check in during travel as well.
- Riders should meet their driver the first time in a public area, not get picked up from their homes. If possible, they should meet their driver before agreeing to ride with him or her.
- Riders and drivers should exchange emergency contact numbers.
- If for any reason a participant does not feel safe with his or her arranged rideshare partner(s), he or she should decline to travel together again.
RATIONALE
Ridesharing is an excellent way to reduce air pollution and build community networks. It is essential to the function of ridesharing that it be undertaken in a safe and comfortable way for all participants.
EFFORT REQUIRED
Program: Moderate - the creators of the rideshare program must implement a rating system and user profiles.
Individual: Easy - the above measures require nothing more than a small investment of time providing feedback and taking common-sense precautions.
BENEFIT
Following the above measures will make ridesharing safer. A reputation for safety will likely increase the popularity of ridesharing, thus further reducing individual automobile use.
ACTION AGENTS
The creators of ridesharing programs and the individual program participants.
COST
Program: Website design and maintenance
Individual: None
A method of transportation where people will collaborate on their driving needs in order to reduce the number of cars on the roads. An example of car pooling is co-workers who live near each other driving to work together. See also CAR POOLING.
