Photo by Getty Images. Illustrations by bankrate
More Americans are using ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft more than ever before. With just a few clicks, you need to easily request a ride and go anywhere you need it, but how secure is the service? Read RideShare Statistics to find out what to do if you experience problems and learn about the impact of driving on your Uber or Lyft on your insurance.
Ridesharing facts and statistics
Ridesharing Safety Tips
According to recent ride-share accident statistics, the majority of ride-share travel (99.9% for Uber and over 99% of LYFT travel) have been completed without any serious safety issues. The following tips are intended to help both riders and drivers have the safest ride-sharing experience possible.
rider
- Wait for it to get inside. Especially in the evening, we stay indoors requesting a ride.
- Please check the ride comfort. Verify your ride using the PIN verification service. This requires the driver to enter a preset pin number before beginning his trip, and check the car’s license plate number before entering the vehicle.
- Please wear a seat belt. Sit in the back seat of your car and make sure the seat belt is firmly secured.
- Share your plans. Let your family and friends know that you are planning to take Uber or Lyft and share travel details and ETA through the app.
- Let your driver know. Tell the driver that you are sharing travel details with someone. Criminals are less likely to act if they know that they are likely to get caught.
- Keep your personal information yourself. It’s okay to talk to the driver, but please don’t reveal any personal information during the course of the conversation.
- The worst plan. Come up with a plan and signal to quickly communicate and remove yourself from situations where you and your family are potentially unsafe.
- Trust your instincts. If for any reason you feel unsafe, ask the driver to pull and finish the ride. You can also press the emergency button in the app to get help.
driver
- Plan ahead of time. Write down the scenarios for each potential passenger and plan how you will handle each one.
- Screen passengers. With Uber and Lyft, you can see passenger ratings before deciding whether to accept the fare. If your request rider rating is low, don’t be afraid to pass. Many ride-share drivers consider a lower rating of less than 4.6.
- Provide a review. If you encounter a passenger who acts well or makes you uncomfortable, you may want to give another driver a low rating to signal it. You can also contact the Rideshare Company to notify you.
- Listen to your gut. If the passengers feel unsafe, pull to a safe, populated area and end the ride.
- Evaluate your behavior. Be aware of how passengers behave. This will help you get out of dangerous situations.
- Make sure you have insurance. Most insurers offer special coverage, known as ride-share insurance, offering additional premiums for drivers associated with riding services. Drivers on the road can be unpredictable, so you can make sure they are properly prepared.
Rideshare Insurance
If you are driving an Uber or Lyft, your personal car insurance is unlikely to cover you while you are working. Many drivers assume they are fully insured, but most personal policies exclude commercial use coverage. This can have serious consequences.
To fill this gap, ride-sharing companies offer commercial insurance, but only applies during certain periods.
- Waiting for requests offline (period 1): There is no commercial compensation – your personal policy may not cover this either. Talk to your insurance agent for more information and guidance.
- On the way to rider (period 2) (period 3): Uber/Lyft commercial insurance is covered.
The uninsured gap while waiting for a ride request is where ride-share insurance comes in. This policy fills the coverage gap, allowing you to always be financially protected while using your vehicle for ride sharing.
How to get ride-share insurance
Many insurance companies offer ride-share approvals. This can be added to an existing policy at an additional cost. You may need a different ridesharing policy, while others do not provide coverage at all.
You can also request a quote from your current insurance company, but it may be worth collecting quotes from multiple companies and comparing fees and coverage details. And if you don’t notify the insurance company, your coverage could be cancelled, or even worse, you could be denied the claim.
Conclusion
Ridesharing has made getting from point A to B easier than ever, but safety should always come first.
For riders, using simple habits such as checking the vehicle’s license plate, pin verification, and sharing travel details adds an additional layer of security. Drivers can avoid costly risks by staying vigilant, trusting their instincts, and ensuring that they have the right insurance.
A little awareness can go a long way in making the ride less hassle. key? Stay sharp and covered, always safe and secure.
