Asia Johnson and her friends from Quinnipiac University rely on ride-sharing services.
“I actually find us using Ubers often,” she said, “just because we live on campus and it’s just a quick way to get around.”
When ordering a ride on Uber or Lyft, making sure you get into the right car is a must.
“When you normally get in an Uber they’ll ask you are you this person and I know because they want to be just as safe as we do,” Johnson said.
Quinnipiac University sent Uber & Lyft safety information to students Monday following the tragedy in South Carolina.
“She had absolutely no chance in this,” her father Seymour Josephson said. “If there's someday else in the car, there's actually a chance.”
Lt. Don DiStefano from the Quinnipiac University Department Public Safety said students should plan ahead and never take a ride alone.
“You know the old saying there’s safety in numbers and you’ll feel comfortable with friends in the vehicle,” he told NBC Connecticut.
Lt. DiStefano offered advice for students ordering rides after a night of drinking.
“Designate somebody to be the decision maker in your group that night,” he explained. “That person can make sure that the Uber car that you’re getting into is the right car and people who may be intoxicated then can rely on that sober Uber rider to help get you home safely.”
It is important to remember rides can only be requested through the app, DiStefano said.
“Never get into a car when the driver says they’re an Uber and you didn’t order on your app,” DiStefano said, “so anybody posing to be an Uber driver and offering a ride, don’t get in the car.”
Court documents obtained by NBC Connecticut in 2016 said an Iraqi refugee posing as an Uber driver picked up a Quinnipiac student from a New Haven bar and sexually assaulted her. He’s now serving his prison sentence.
“After that incident I know we did release information safety information on how to ride an Uber safely and we continuously educate our students on that,” DiStefano said.
In addition to going in groups, riders are urged to double check a car’s license plate, make & model and to make sure the driver’s photo on the app matches the person behind the wheel.
“We always check the license plate first,” QU junior Ben Persky said. “I just want to make sure that I get in the right car.”
At the University of South Carolina, they have started a campaign to keep ride share users safe, by asking drivers a simple question, “What’s my name?”
If the driver does not know, do not get in the car.
