Mississauga advising residents to exercise caution with ridesharing services
Published December 11, 2019 at 8:35 pm
If you regularly use ridesharing services such as Uber or Lyft, your ride will almost certainly be safe, pleasant and convenient.
However, there have been incidents where people have been assaulted by drivers purporting to work for the services. In fact, Uber launched a new alert system called “Check Your Ride” in response to recent crimes committed by fake ride-share drivers in Canada in the US.
Over the past year, police have reported several alleged sexual assault incidents involving legitimate rideshare drivers and passengers. In some cases, however, victims were picked up by drivers who did not work for the rideshare company at all.
With the holiday season in full swing, the City of Mississauga is reminding everyone to practice safe ridesharing habits as they rely on Uber, Lyft and other services to get them to and from functions.
What are some tips?
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- Confirm the vehicle’s plate number as shown in the app
- Match the driver profile with the description provided in the app
- Ask your driver “what’s my name?” before getting into the vehicle
- Wait for your ride indoors
- Tell a friend where you’re going
- Ride in the back seat
- Map your own route during the ride
- Don’t share private information with the driver
“Practising sound rideshare habits will help ensure everyone has a safe holiday season. Residents are encouraged to report any concerns by calling 311. In an emergency, always call 911,” the city says.
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