(WSPA) – Uber officials released a statement to 7News on Tuesday following the death of University of South Carolina student Samanthan Josephson, saying they will be partnering with the university to help raise awareness on how to avoid fake rideshare drivers.
“Since 2017, we’ve been working with local law enforcement to educate the public about how to avoid fake rideshare drivers,” an Uber spokesperson said. “Everyone at Uber is devastated to hear about this unspeakable crime, and our hearts are with Samantha Josephson’s family and loved ones. We spoke with the University of South Carolina President and will be partnering with the university to raise awareness on college campuses nationwide about this incredibly important issue.”
According to Uber officials, the company will be implementing the following education steps in the coming weeks:
- Launching a Check Your Ride awareness campaign on social media
- Purchasing ads in college papers with a Check Your Ride PSA
- Promoting our in-app Safety Center to all riders in the U.S.
- Sending push notifications during pickup to remind riders of the Check Your Ride steps
Uber wants to remind riders to double check two things before starting a trip — check the driver and the car. After requesting a trip through the app, riders will then receive the driver’s photo, name, the car make and model and license plate number.
On Monday, News13’s sister station WSPA reported that South Carolina Rep. Seth Rose introduced the bill, referred to as the “Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Safety Act,” on Tuesday, along with Rep. Micah Caskey.
Under the new bill, the ridesharing vehicles in the state would be required to display signs that must be readable during the day at a distance of 50 feet.
The signs must also be illuminated and patently visible so that they can be seen in the darkness.
In the Uber Newsroom, you’ll find a blog post titled, “Riding with Uber this summer? Here’s how to check your ride,” written by a representative of the company’s law enforcement outreach team, as well as a list of safety tips on their website.