Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are great modes of transport. However, occasionally, drivers may display concerning behaviors that make passengers uncomfortable.
Should you ever observe odd or unprofessional behavior, you need to know how to respond. Your safety should always come first. Taking the right actions can prevent a regrettable situation.
Knowing your legal options is essential while dealing with a careless or dangerous driver. If something goes wrong, getting in touch with the best rideshare accident lawyers will help you understand your rights. These professionals can guide you on what to do to ensure your safety.
Here is a list of five concerning behaviors exhibited by rideshare drivers and what you should do in such situations.
1. Reckless Driving or Speeding
Speeding and reckless driving are obvious red flags. Your safety is in jeopardy if your driver is speeding, dodging traffic, or ignoring traffic signals. You should be sure your driver is driving sensibly and according to the law.
Ask the driver to slow down or drive more gently when you feel unsafe because of reckless driving or speeding. Should they refuse or persist, do not hesitate to stop the ride immediately if it is safe to do so. Tell the rideshare company about the behavior as well; provide details to enable them to take action against the reckless driver.
2. Distracted Driving
Whether it’s texting, using social media, or continuously tinkering with the GPS while driving, distracted driving is dangerous. Your driver increases the risk of accidents when they are not concentrated on the road. Always expect your driver to give your safety top priority and pay total attention to driving.
If you observe your driver is continuously distracted, gently remind them to pay attention to the road. Should the behavior persist, you are entitled to ask them to stop or end the ride. Always let the rideshare platform know about instances of distracted driving to help to stop such events with other passengers in the future.
3. Hostile or Aggressive Behavior
Aggressive drivers, those who use inappropriate language, or those who involve themselves in road rage expose their passengers to uncomfortable and dangerous circumstances. Aggressive driving or hostile interactions with other drivers might be warning signs of an unstable or maybe dangerous person behind the wheel.
Should your driver act aggressively, do not interact or aggravate the matter. Rather, gently ask them to stop the behavior or call off the trip. Tell the rideshare company about the driver’s behavior once you get out of the car and into a safe area. Recording these events guarantees the company can investigate the driver.
4. Erratic or Impaired Driving
You have to act fast if your driver seems drunk, drifts between lanes, or is swerving. Erratic driving could mean any of the following.
- Fatigue
- Inability to operate a vehicle
- Drug or alcohol-related intoxication, etc.
In this situation, the ride should be ended right away. Safely get out of the car, then let the rideshare company know about the driver. Also, get local police notified if you believe the driver is drunk. They have to step in to guarantee the driver is off the road before causing damage.
5. Unprofessional or Inappropriate Conversation
Although some drivers welcome chatting with their passengers, there are boundaries on what is deemed acceptable. You should address the matter if your driver begins to ask personal questions or makes inappropriate remarks.
Tell the driver you would like a quiet ride or gently guide the discussion back to neutral subjects. Should the behavior persist, you are free to leave the car. After the ride, let the rideshare company know about the incident, informing them of the behavior of the driver.
