What To Do If An Uber Ride Suddenly Feels Unsafe, With The Steps I Wish Someone Had Told Me Years Ago

Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Successful Black Parenting Staff

If an Uber ride feels unsafe, you have more options than you might think, both in the moment and afterward. Below are the steps I wish someone had told me years ago, plus a quick checklist for before you get in the car and tips for parents whose teens use rideshare apps.

There’s this strange moment that can hit you out of nowhere during an Uber ride. You’re sitting there, maybe texting someone or staring out the window, and then something shifts. It might be the driver taking an odd turn. Or the way he keeps checking the rearview mirror. Or maybe it’s nothing obvious at all, just that tight feeling in your chest that whispers, “Hey, pay attention.”

I wish someone had told me years ago that you don’t need a perfect reason to trust that feeling. It’s your body trying to keep you safe.

So let’s talk about what to do in that moment. Not the polished, corporate safety tips, but the real things that help when you’re alone in a moving car, and your instinct says something is off.

Step 1. Give Yourself Permission To Take Your Fear Seriously

A lot of us brush off that first wave of discomfort. We tell ourselves we’re overreacting or being dramatic. I used to do that constantly. But here’s the thing. Sitting in a stranger’s car at night is already a vulnerable situation. You’re not being dramatic. You’re being human.

If your body says something feels wrong, treat that as valid. You don’t need anything more than that to act.

Step 2. Quietly Pull Up The Map And Watch The Route

This is the easiest, lowest-stress way to ground yourself. Open the Uber app and track where the car is going. You don’t need to make it obvious. Just glance at it every thirty seconds or so.

If the driver drifts off the route, you’ll catch it immediately instead of realizing three minutes later when you’re already deep into some unfamiliar neighborhood.

I still remember one night when the driver took a weird shortcut. He was probably just avoiding traffic, but my stomach twisted. Watching the map gave me something concrete to focus on. It helped me breathe again.

Step 3. Call Someone, Even If It’s Pretend

This one is simple but powerful. Make a call. Put the phone on speaker. Say something like, “Yeah, I just got into my Uber. I’ll be home in ten minutes. The driver can hear you, too.”

You don’t have to explain anything. Communication creates accountability. And it signals to the driver that someone is expecting you soon.

I’ve done this little trick more than once. It always makes me feel less alone in the car.

Step 4. Use The “Share My Trip” Feature Right Away

I wish I had known about this years ago. Inside the app, there’s a button that lets you send your live location to a friend or family member. The person you share it with can see every turn the car makes.

Even if your phone call felt awkward, this step gives you backup.

Step 5. Ask The Driver To Stop Somewhere Public If You Need To Get Out

You don’t have to wait for the end of the ride. You can simply say, “Actually, I need to get out of here.” And make sure “here” is a gas station, a restaurant, or anywhere with people around.

You don’t need a story or an explanation. Your safety doesn’t require approval from the driver.

Once your feet are on the sidewalk, you’re back in control of the situation.

Step 6. If Something Truly Frightening Happens, Contact The Police First

Sometimes things escalate. Maybe the driver locks the doors. Maybe he ignores your requests to stop. Maybe he says something threatening that freezes you.

If you can, call 911. If calling feels too risky, text someone and ask them to call for you. Do not worry about being mistaken or dramatic. In moments like this, safety comes before embarrassment.

Step 7. Report It And Get Real Support Afterward

When the ride is over, and you’re somewhere safe, your emotions might hit you like a wave. That adrenaline crash is real. You might shake. You might cry. You might feel angry or confused or strangely numb.

Whatever you feel is normal.

If the driver’s behavior crossed a line or you experienced something traumatic, you don’t have to navigate the aftermath by yourself. There are attorneys who focus specifically on helping women who were assaulted or harmed during Uber rides. People who understand how overwhelming it can be to report the incident and how hard it is to even talk about it.

Before You Get In: A Quick Rideshare Safety Checklist

Many of the best safety habits happen before the car even pulls away. Make these a routine:

• Wait indoors or in a well-lit spot until the app shows your driver has arrived.
• Match the license plate, car make and model, and driver photo to what the app shows.
• Ask, “Who are you here to pick up?” and let the driver say your name first.
• Sit in the back seat so you have space and can exit on either side.
• Turn on trip sharing as soon as you get in, not after something feels wrong.
• Keep your phone charged and your seatbelt on.

Uber’s safety page explains its in-app tools, including the emergency button and trip sharing. Take two minutes to find them in the app now, so you are not searching for them if an Uber ride feels unsafe later.

When an Uber Ride Feels Unsafe for Your Teen

Teens often use rideshare apps for school events, jobs, and late nights out. Uber’s standard rules require riders to be adults, but in many U.S. cities a parent or guardian can set up a teen account that lets the family follow trips in real time. Check what is available where you live before your teen books a ride.

Then practice a plan together. Agree on what your teen can say to end a ride (“Please pull over here, I’m getting out”), which public places are good stopping spots, and a code word they can text you that means “call me now and help me leave.” Most important, promise that they will never be in trouble for calling you. When you are raising a Black child, it also helps to talk calmly about what to do if police get involved, and to remind your teen that their safety always comes first.

For more ways to keep your kids safe on the go, read our guides to safe travels with kids, child safety apps for everyday monitoring, and digital safety for our kids.

You Deserve To Feel Safe In The Back Seat Of A Car

That’s the part that gets me. A ride home should be the least dramatic part of your day. You shouldn’t have to plan for escape routes or safety strategies. But until the world catches up to that idea, you deserve tools that actually help you feel in control.

And you deserve support if something goes wrong.