7 Safety Tips for Riding in Uber Nigeria (especially for females)
In this post, I will be sharing with you seven (7) interesting safety tips for your Uber rides in Nigeria. This is especially important if you are a female.
Uber as a means of transport has come to stay in Nigeria. Tens of thousands of trips are being taken everyday across some major cities in Nigeria. This transportation model has disrupted services like the Yellow Taxi and if the middle class rises, its use will continue to ascend.
People patronize Uber taxis for various reasons like Comfort, Privacy, Safety, and Convenience.
While most users consider the use of Uber taxis safe, there have been incidences that have caused serious stirs. There have been cases where riders have been robbed of valuables.
It is against this backdrop that I have found it important to provide these seven (7) safety tips for riders of Uber and Bolt (Taxify) taxis.
- Verify the Vehicle Specifics: After confirming a ride is on the way, make sure the car matches what’s listed on the ride-share app upon arrival. Check that the make, model, color and license plate number all match. Beyond ensuring general safety, the measure is also helpful in large cities or busy environments where many similar vehicles are out completing rides.
- Confirm You’re the Passenger: A predator could easily pose as a ride-share driver; never disclose your name first. Ask the driver who they’re here to pick up so you can confirm it’s the right person” who made the request via the app. It’s a crucial way to ensure driver accountability and avoid any unwanted confusion for the passenger.
- Travel With A Friend: Strength in numbers is best, no matter the endeavor. In the case of ride-sharing, it’s always a good idea to travel with someone else. If you must go alone, use the apps’ “share status” feature so friends can track the ride. Let them know your destination, and check in with a text or phone call once you get there.
- Never Travel Alone Drunk: Never take a taxi alone if you’re drunk. If you’ve had too much to drink, it may seem like the right decision to get a cab — and it is, with someone else.
- Always Wear Your Seat Belt: Even careful motorists can be involved in accidents, so don’t treat ride-share precautions any differently — even on brief trips. I have observed a different attitude in a taxi or ride-share as opposed to being in a more personal car. Apart from the fact that buckling up is the law, seat belts save lives. Seat belt use is the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries related to car crashes
- Don’t Enter A Car With a Passenger: Never enter a taxi with someone else in the passenger seat. No matter what the reason they’re there, it can mean no good for you and it’s commonly a way that travelers get robbed, kidnapped, raped, and murdered.
- Trust Your Gut: A driver who follows a strange or unsafe route — or maneuvers erratically or makes inappropriate comments — needn’t be tolerated. If it doesn’t feel right, change where you’re going or say, ‘I’ve changed my mind and you can let me out here. A good driver will do that.
BONUS TIP: Give Feedback About Your Trip
After each trip, you’re asked in the app to rate your trip. Your feedback helps keep Uber safe and enjoyable for everyone. If you ever experience a safety issue on a trip, please report it to Uber. Uber has a great response team for follow up
So here they are, 7 safety tips for riding in Uber in Nigeria. I trust you found them useful. Kindly share so others can benefit. I would also be delighted if you can share with us precautions you take when riding Uber that others will find beneficial.
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