Without hesitation, millions of Americans use Uber and Lyft to get around every day. The ride-hailing companies offer services that can be cashless, quick, convenient and sometimes cheaper than hailing a traditional taxi. Still, the ridesharing equation can go wrong like in the case of the South Carolina college student who was recently killed after getting into a car she mistook for an Uber. Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, is facing murder and kidnapping charges in the case. "Everyone at Uber is devastated to hear about this unspeakable crime, and our hearts are with Samantha Josephson’s family and loved ones," an Uber spokesperson told USA TODAY. “Since 2017, we’ve been working with local law enforcement and college campuses across the country to educate the public about how to avoid fake rideshare drivers." As shocking as it is, it's not the first rideshare horror story to occur this year. Authorities said a Lyft driver in Louisiana kidnapped and raped an intoxicated female passenger at his apartment in January. And in 2018, a man who posed as an Uber driver was charged with rape and sexual battery after attacking two women in Georgia. Rest in Peace:Family, friends remember Samantha Josephson, murdered after mistaking her killer's car for Uber Need a Lyft?The stock price of ride-hailing company ends lower following last week's IPO While major issues are rare compared to how frequently people use the services, both Uber and Lyft offer additional tips and policies to maximize passenger safety. Uber Wait indoors for your ride: Avoid spending unnecessary time outside alone with your phone in your hand. Instead, wait indoors until the app shows your driver has arrived. Pay attention to the vehicle: Check out the make and model of the car that pulls up and compare the license plate number to the one listed on the app. Also, look at the driver photo and name. Make sure it matches what’s listed in the app. South Carolina requires drivers to have rear license plates, according to a spokesperson for the Charleston (South Carolina) Police Department. Keep in mind that these plates may be harder to spot than front license plates as a driver approaches. Look for the beacon: Uber has begun rolling out a glowing sign it calls a "beacon" in some markets. The device glows in a color the would-be passenger selects, so they’ll know exactly which vehicle is the one they ordered. Still, dashboard LED lights that say "Uber" or "Lyft" can be misleading. Anyone – not just authorized drivers – can buy them on Amazon for less than $20. Use caution: Uber rides can only be requested through the app, so never get in a car with a driver who claims to be with Uber and offers a ride. Sit in the backseat: If you’re riding alone, this ensures you can safely exit on either side of the vehicle to avoid moving traffic, and it gives you and your driver some personal space. Wear a seat belt: The Centers for Disease Control reports that seatbelt use is the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries related to car accidents. Let a friend know: While en route, tap “Share status” in the app to share your driver’s name, photo, license plate, and location with a friend or family member. They can track your trip and see your ETA without downloading the Uber app. Don't share too much info: There’s no need to share your phone number or other contact information with your driver. If a rider and driver need to contact each other, the Uber app automatically anonymizes both phone numbers to protect everyone’s privacy. Trust your instincts: Use your best judgment when riding with Uber. And if you ever feel you’re in an emergency situation, call 911 immediately. You can do that right within the mobile app, as Uber also began rolling out an emergency button for the app in 2018. Be respectful: As outlined in Uber's community guidelines, please respect your driver and his or her car. Give feedback: Your feedback helps make the experience better for everyone. There's a 24/7 global support team that reviews feedback and will follow up with appropriate action on any reports of conduct that violate our community guidelines. Lyft Before you get in: Ask the driver who he or she is there to pick up. Since the app provides the driver with your name, they should be able to answer. Call it in: The company has a critical response team that is always available if you are involved in an incident that you believe threatens your personal safety. First, call the authorities and then report the problem to Lyft. Leave the gun at home: Lyft doesn't allow drivers or riders to carry weapons, even in places where it's legal to carry a weapon. It's safer for everyone. Rate your driver: You’ve got the power. Passengers and drivers rate each other after every ride. If you rate someone 3 stars or below, you’ll never be matched with them again. Keep your valuables close: Per Lyft's terms of service, the company is not responsible for personal belongings left in the car by drivers or riders, and there's no reimbursement for those items. Keep everyone's safety in mind: This means not asking your driver to make that illegal 16-point U-turn in that intersection and remembering to bring a child seat with you if you need one. Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown<doc-sep>Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Two incidents involving women trying to get a ride using a ride sharing app have ended tragically in the past week. Police in Massachusetts are investigating the alleged rape of a female passenger and the University of South Carolina is mourning the death of a student who thought she was getting into an Uber. Although popular ride sharing app’s like Uber and Lyft have many built in safety mechanisms, a Pittsburgh Uber driver says there are still many reasons to proceed with caution. Not taking a ride with a stranger is practical advice you grow up hearing, but now it’s something many do frequently. Ulysses Coto is a father of six with over 14,000 trips under his belt and a five star rating. Coto says both driver and passenger must take responsibility to verify one another’s identities match the information on the app, to include the passengers account name and the name of the driver, their face, license plate and car description. “These cars are the biggest things that people have to look out for and if it’s on the app and they can see a larger picture of the car, they can verify that’s their car,” Coto said. On Friday, a University of South Carolina student reportedly ordered an Uber as she left friends at the end of the night. The car she climbed into, authorities think, the student may have mistakenly thought was an Uber, but it wasn’t. the USC student never made it home and was later found dead. Coro says although the student never climbed into an Uber, the tragedy highlights problems in the ride sharing passenger/driver verification. For instance Coto says is “the person arriving is the correct car, but it’s the incorrect driver.” “There’s been loopholes in other states where people who look similar to someone will try and manipulate the system,” Coto said As for the Uber passenger Coto says paying attention and asking questions is key. “Every car up here could have an Uber symbol, how would you know it’s your car, you have to verify, you have to check the license plate, you have to check the driver,” Coto added. Coto says it happened to him recently on a pickup downtown. “Her and her friend got in the wrong car, I called them after two minutes she said she was in an Uber, I said if you were in the correct Uber, you’d be in my car.” As for the Light up Uber symbols Coto says anyone can buy them. “This Uber is to alleviate the hitchhiker situation from certified drivers and accredited passengers who have an account,” he said. Drivers for Uber must pass both a driving and criminal background check. Uber has also implemented random driver photo verification checks. Uber did not reposed to any further questions tonight.<doc-sep>— Do you use a ride-share service like Lyft or Uber? Following the death of University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson, safety while riding is top of mind for many people. "It was scary how real that can be and how easy it is for something like that to happen," said Madison Beckom, a freshman at North Carolina State University. Josephson got into a car she thought was an Uber on Mar. 29, but instead it was driven by Nathaniel Rowland, who is now charged with killing her. "You should make sure you're getting in the right car because we've gotten in the wrong Uber before," said Karmen Idol, a freshman at N.C. State. "We were fine, but we were also in a group." Josephson was riding alone. "If there's two of you, something less likely will happen," Seymour Josephson, Samantha’s dad, said. "Samantha was by herself. She had absolutely no chance, none." C.J. Scarlet speaks and writes about women's self-defense after her own experience being raped when she was in college. "It was a very traumatic event, and it took me years to deal with it," Scarlet said. She says rule No. 1 is to not give your name to the driver – ask them for your name instead. And rule No. 2, make sure you have the right car. "Check the make and model of the car. Then, ask who they are and who they are there to meet before you ever get in," Scarlet said. Rule No. 3, share your location on the app or through another application with a friend or family member. "You can activate on your phone, tell it to share your location with somebody you trust," she said. Also, try to travel with a friend. "Have a wingman or wingwoman that you're traveling with," Scarlet said. "The person who murdered this young woman was an opportunistic predator. He was taking advantage of a situation because it presented itself." Rule No. 5, sit in the front seat of the car if you're alone. The child safety locks work only in the backseat and can cause you to be trapped. "If someone kidnaps you and takes you to another location to commit the crime, you will have to fight for your life in that situation," Scarlet said. You have a much better shot at fighting for your life from the front seat, where you can open the door and get out, she said. Scarlet also recommends women carry pepper spray, and she means carrying it in your hand, not just having it in your purse.<doc-sep>
Watch these UK commandos fly over the sea with new jet pack Energy regulator: Pipelines are at the forefront of our national defenses It's a boat? It's a plane? No, it's a 'seaglider.' And it goes fast...really fast Boston-based REGENT's "seaglider" is a mix between a boat and an aircraft with a top speed of 180 mph. NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 16: SVP and Director at IBM Research Arvind Krishna speaks on stage during the 2016 Wired Business Conference on June 16, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brian Ach/Getty Images for Wired) Viral 'Charlie bit my finger' video to be taken down. Here's why Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, gives his opening remarks flanked by local state delegation members prior to signing legislation that seeks to punish social media platforms that remove conservative ideas from their sites, inside Florida International University's MARC building in Miami on Monday, May 24, 2021. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald via AP) (CNN) — Now that the vast majority of Americans know about Uber or Lyft, millions of people count on a safe and convenient ride with just a few taps on the phone. But stories like the one about the South Carolina college student who was killed after getting into a car she mistook for an Uber raise questions about what riders can do to help maximize their safety. Here are some key safety tips for using rideshare services like Uber and Lyft: Wait for your ride indoors This prevents you from standing outside unnecessarily with a phone in your hand, signaling to passing motorists that you’re waiting for someone to pick you up. Instead, wait until your driver is close or has arrived before going outside. Confirm details when the car arrives Don’t just look at what time your driver is coming. Pay attention to the make, model and color of the car, as well as the driver’s name and photo. Make sure to match the license plate number on your screen to the one you see in real life. Map your own route during the ride This is especially important if you’re in a different city and aren’t familiar with the route. By monitoring your own GPS navigation, you’ll see if the driver is leading you astray. Don’t share private information with your driver This includes your personal phone number. The Uber app automatically encrypts both the driver’s number and the passenger’s digits to protect both sides’ privacy. You should never share credit card info with the driver. All Lyft and Uber fares are paid through the app, and tips can be added there, too. Ride in the back seat If you’re the only passenger in the car, riding in the back seat gives both the passenger and driver more personal space. It also ensures you’re able to get out on either side to avoid traffic. Tell a friend where you’re going and who you’re with Both Lyft and Uber let you quickly and easily share who your driver is, where you’re going and when you’re supposed to get there. The “share status” option in the Uber app gives your friend your driver’s name, photo, license plate and location. Your friend can then track your trip and see your estimated time of arrival – even if he or she doesn’t have the app. The “send ETA” feature on the Lyft app is very similar. It sends a text to your friend with details about the car, the driver and how far along you are on the route.