Get into a car with a total stranger.

The idea sounds like everything Mom warned you not to do as a child, right? But today, there are more than 8 million people worldwide using ridesharing services, so maybe that advice needs an update. And tell Mom not to worry because we have multiple safety features & procedures to help you feel safe when you ride.

Fighting drunk driving

For many college students, ridesharing is an essential—whether you request a ride because you don’t own a car, you don’t feel like dealing with the hassle and price of parking, or you’ve been drinking and don’t want to get behind the wheel. But we still have a ways to go.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), there were 267 drunk driving fatalities in Tennessee last year, representing 27.8% of all total traffic deaths.

That statistic doesn’t have to stay so astoundingly large.

As Uber comes to more and more college towns, it’s our hope that students will opt to request a ride rather than get behind the wheel while under the influence.

Staying safe while ridesharing

Any service that’s become a part of your everyday life shouldn’t make you second-guess your safety.

One of Uber’s main goals is to make every trip safe and reliable, so you can relax from the moment you request a ride to the moment you’re dropped off at your dorm. Here’s how our technology keeps you safe:

  • You can wait inside. Your driver is given directions to your pickup point, and you’re notified when they’re arriving. That way, there’s no need to flag them down. You can wait for your ride from the comfort of your own dorm instead of curbside or down the block.
  • Your lost stuff can be found. If you leave something behind in your ride—who hasn’t left their phone in a ride?—no sweat. Uber lets you contact your driver after the trip to get your belongings back.
  • Your digits are private. Uber’s technology anonymizes your phone number, so when you and your driver need to contact each other, your personal info stays confidential.
  • You don’t need cash. Your payment method is on file in the app, which eliminates the potential worry that comes with carrying cash for both riders and drivers.
  • Loved ones can track your trip. Use the Share My ETA feature to—yup, you guessed it—share your ETA with family and friends and send them a live map, so they know exactly where you are.

But there are always steps you can take to make every trip safer. How to be a proactive Uber rider:

  • Don’t ever get into a ride you didn’t request. Uber’s technology connects riders and drivers—that way, there’s a record of your trip, from the minute you tap “Request” to when you get out of the car.
  • Double-check that the car waiting curbside matches the info found in the app. Uber provides riders with the driver’s car make and model, license plate number, and photo for you to confirm that you’re getting into the right vehicle.
  • See if your school offers Safe Rides. Uber partners with colleges to offer discounted rides on specific days or times of day. That way, the next time your DD ended up drinking, you can request a Safe Ride for cheap.
  • If you feel unsafe on your trip, please let us know. We want to make it right. To report an incident or concern, enter it in the Feedback box right after completing a trip, reply to the receipt you receive in your inbox, or, to retroactively file a report:
    • Tap the menu button in the upper-left corner.
    • Tap Trips, then select the trip you want to report.
    • Tap Need Help?.
    • Select the appropriate inquiry, then follow the prompts to complete your report.