How to Stay Safe in a Rideshare: What Every Passenger Should Know

Woman waiting by the sidewalk for her rideshare car to arrive, monitoring her phone

Rideshare apps have made getting around genuinely easier. A few taps and someone shows up to take you where you need to go. Most rides end without a problem.

 

But between 2017 and 2020, Uber received over 10,000 sexual assault complaints according to the company's own safety reports. In 2024, Uber reported that over 2,700 sexual assaults happened during trips between 2021 and 2022. Those numbers don't come from critics. They come from the platforms themselves.

 

None of this means you should stop using rideshare. It means you should approach it the same way you approach any situation where your personal safety matters: with a plan, a few good habits, and something to back you up if things go wrong.

 

Here's what actually helps.

 

Check the Car Before You Get In

 

This is the most important step on this list, and it only takes about ten seconds.

 

Before you open the door, check the license plate and make sure it matches what the app shows you. Then check the driver's photo and the car make and model. All three need to match. When you approach the car, ask the driver to confirm your name, not the other way around. A legitimate driver will answer. Someone posing as a rideshare driver will not know your name.

 

One of the most common rideshare safety incidents involves passengers entering the wrong vehicle, including situations where someone is actively impersonating a rideshare driver. The ten-second check before you open the door is the one habit that can ensure you're getting in the correct car.

 

If anything feels off at pickup, like the car doesn't match, the driver seems confused about your name, something just doesn't sit right, trust that. Cancel the ride and request another from a safer spot. You don't need a reason to not get in a car.


Sit in the Back Seat

 

For solo riders, the back seat is the right call. It puts physical distance between you and the driver, gives you a door on each side, and reduces the chance of unwanted contact.

 

When you get in, check the child safety lock on the back door. There is a small lever on the inside edge of the door frame. If it is pushed down, the lock is on and you will not be able to open that door from the inside. Check it before the ride gets moving.

 

Try to sit on the passenger side in the back. That puts you closest to the curb when you arrive and furthest from the driver.

 

 

Woman sitting in the backseat of a rideshare car, alert, composed, phone in her hands.


 

Share Your Trip Before You Leave

 

Both Uber and Lyft let you share live trip details with someone you trust. That includes the driver name, car info, route, and estimated arrival time. Use this before every solo ride, not just the ones that feel risky. Making it a habit means you never have to make a judgment call in the moment.

 

It is also worth screenshotting the driver's name and plate number and texting it to someone before the ride starts. If a driver cancels a ride at any point, even once you're already in the car, their information can disappear from the app. Having it saved somewhere outside the app means you still have it.

 

If you are heading somewhere late at night or somewhere unfamiliar, let someone know your plan separately too. A quick text before you get in and another when you arrive goes a long way.

 

Watch the Route

 

You don't need to memorize every turn, but glancing at the map periodically is a smart habit. Both apps show your route in real time. If the driver takes a turn that does not make sense, that is worth paying attention to.

 

Opening your own map app separately and entering your destination gives you a second reference point, especially in an area you do not know well. Most unexpected route changes have a simple explanation, like traffic or a road closure. If you notice something that seems off, ask the driver about it directly. If the answer does not add up or the situation feels unsafe, use the in-app emergency button to contact 911 with your live location.

 

Keep Your Phone Accessible

 

Your phone is your most important safety tool during a rideshare. Keep it in your hand or an outer pocket for the entire ride, not buried in a bag. Know where the emergency button is in the app before you need it.

 

It is also worth waiting indoors until the car arrives rather than standing on the sidewalk for five minutes staring at a tracker. Standing outside alone, focused on a screen, is a moment of vulnerability that is easy to avoid. Most apps give you an accurate enough ETA that you can time stepping outside to minimize the wait.

 

What to Carry

 

App features and good habits are the first line of defense. A physical backup is the second.

 

In a rideshare, the tools that work best are the ones already on your person before you get in, accessible without digging through a bag, and effective in a confined space.

 

Pepper gel. In a vehicle, gel has a real advantage over traditional spray. Traditional spray atomizes when it fires, which means it can disperse through the air in an enclosed space and affect everyone in it, including you. Gel travels in a targeted stream, sticks to what it hits, and does not hang in the air. The Streetwise Sticky Gel reaches up to 12 feet and is formulated to be hard to wipe off quickly. Keep it in a jacket pocket or clipped to your keychain so it is already in your hand when you need it.

 

Personal alarm. As long as you are in an area where you can get the attention of others, a 120dB alarm in a vehicle is extremely effective because the enclosed space amplifies the sound significantly. A compact clip-on alarm requires no training and activates with a single pull. Browse the personal alarm collection.

 

Keychain stun gun. For close-contact situations. The Sting Ring fits between your fingers and does not require reaching or drawing from anywhere. It is already in your hand. In a vehicle where space is limited and things can move fast, that matters. Browse the full keychain self-defense collection.

 

Whatever you carry, it needs to be on your person before you get in. A self-defense tool in the bottom of a bag is not accessible in a confined space under pressure. A jacket pocket, an outer bag pocket, or clipped to your keys are the options that actually work.

 

Can You Carry Pepper Spray in an Uber or Lyft?

Self-defense tools like pepper spray are a common choice for personal safety. Since rideshare platforms have their own rules, it’s always smart to review their policies ahead of time and ensure you’re compliant.

 

Stun guns are legal in most U.S. states. Pepper spray is legal in all 50 states, though some states have restrictions on canister size or concentration. It is worth checking your specific state laws before purchasing.

 

Flatlay of a black phone with a keychain holding several normal keys, along with a panic alarm, and a pepper spray canister

 

What to Do If Something Feels Wrong

 

Trust the feeling before you try to reason it away. Most people who describe being in a bad situation say afterward that they sensed something was off before anything happened but talked themselves out of acting on it.

 

If something feels wrong during a ride, you have real options:

  • Ask to be dropped off at any safe, public location. You do not need an explanation. "I need to stop here" is enough.
  • Use the in-app emergency button. Both Uber and Lyft have one that contacts 911 and shares your live location.
  • Call someone. Letting a driver know someone else is aware of where you are changes the dynamic.
  • Text your location to someone without speaking, if you do not feel safe talking out loud.

 

If an assault occurs, contact law enforcement first. The in-app report can come after. You have the right to file a police report regardless of whether you also notify the platform, and in serious situations the police report matters more.

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Frequently asked Questions about Rideshare Safety

Is it safe to sit in the front seat of an Uber? +
The back seat is safer for solo riders. It creates physical distance, gives you access to doors on both sides, and reduces the chance of unwanted contact. Default to the back seat, passenger side.
Can you carry pepper spray in an Uber or Lyft? +
Yes. Neither platform prohibits passengers from carrying legal self-defense tools. Pepper gel is a better option than traditional spray in a vehicle because it travels in a targeted stream rather than dispersing into the air of an enclosed space.
How do you verify your Uber or Lyft driver? +
Check the license plate, driver photo, and car make and model in the app before opening the door. Then ask the driver to confirm your name, not the other way around. A real driver will know it.
What should I do if my driver takes an unexpected route? +
Watch the route in a separate map app and ask the driver directly about any turn that seems off. Most have simple explanations. If the situation feels unsafe, use the in-app emergency button to contact 911 with your live location, or ask to be dropped at a public location.
What self-defense tools work best in a rideshare? +
Tools that are already on your person before you get in and do not require reaching into a bag. Pepper gel clipped to your keys, a personal alarm on a keychain, or a compact stun gun in a jacket pocket are the most practical options for an enclosed vehicle setting.
What if I feel unsafe waiting for my ride? +
Wait indoors if you can and step outside only when the car is close. Standing alone on a sidewalk staring at a tracker for several minutes is unnecessary. Most apps give you accurate enough ETA information to time stepping outside well.