Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 8 april 2019

Slaying puts focus on ride-hailing safety, fake drivers

CHICAGO (AP) — When- It's not just women who are
ever Rachel Orden calls for at risk from fake ride-hailing
an Uber, the 20-year-old drivers, he said. Men also
Michigan State University have been robbed after
sophomore immediately getting into the wrong car.
walks to the back of the ve- "There is no discrimination
hicle to check the license by predators," he said.
plate number, then opens Greening urged Uber and
the door and waits for the Lyft to do more to educate
driver to say her name be- customers and to come
fore getting in. up with technological solu-
Even then, she devises a tions. Also, in the wake of
backup plan in case she Josephson's death, a bill
feels uncomfortable. has been introduced in the
"How could I get out? Could South Carolina legislature
I unlock the door? Who do I to require Uber and Lyft
have on speed dial? Could drivers to have illuminated
I jump out safely if I needed signs.
to? All that goes through Uber said in a written state-
my mind," said Orden, of ment that in coming weeks
Naples, Florida, who uses it will launch a social me-
the ride-hailing service dia campaign, buy ads in
about once a week, usual- college newspapers and
ly when going out at night. begin sending push noti-
She said the March 29 slay- fications during pickup to
ing of University of South remind passengers about
Carolina student Saman- safety steps. It also said it
tha Josephson, who mistak- has worked since 2017 with
enly got into a vehicle she law enforcement and col-
thought was her Uber ride, leges to "educate the pub-
has made her even more lic about how to avoid fake
cautious. rideshare drivers," includ-
It also has prompted law ing by checking a driver's
enforcement agencies photo and vehicle descrip-
and ride-hailing compa- tion against what was sent
nies to intensify efforts to In this Jan. 12, 2016, file photo, a ride share car displays Lyft and Uber stickers on its front wind- when a trip is requested.
warn passengers against shield in downtown Los Angeles. Lyft said it also provides
getting in without checking Associated Press photos of the driver and
to ensure both the vehicle information about the vehi-
and driver are legitimate. A Chicago-area man was used the childproof locks in the man on investigation of cle, and some Lyft vehicles
Although no official tal- charged with raping four his car to imprison Joseph- third-degree rape. have a display on dash-
lies exist, there have been women he picked up at son before killing her and And a man from Stamford, boards that changes color
several high-profile cases bars after posing as an Uber dumping her body about Connecticut, was charged to match the passengers'
involving would-be robbers driver in 2017. He picked up 65 miles (105 kilometers) last month with raping and app to help them identify
and assailants posing as a fifth woman in a taxi, au- from Columbia. Her funeral kidnapping two women their ride. "We ... are always
ride-hailing drivers — often thorities said. Musaab Afun- was held Saturday in New whom he'd picked up at exploring new, innovative
at bars. Police in South Car- di has pleaded not guilty to Jersey, where she grew up. bars in December, the ways to improve the ex-
olina have not said if that sexual assault and his case Rowland is charged with Greenwich Time reported. perience for all users, and
was what the driver did in is ongoing, CBS2 Chicago kidnapping and murder. "There is no more danger- most importantly, to keep
Josephson's case. reported. Then on Wednesday, a ous place to be than in a our community safe," the
"You do have individuals In South Carolina, Joseph- 34-year-old man was ar- locked car traveling with company said.
who are predatory and son, 21, had ordered an rested on suspicion of rap- a stranger," said Bryant Orden, the Michigan State
roving around looking for Uber around 1:30 a.m. after ing a woman who got into Greening, a Chicago attor- University student, said the
potential victims," said Chi- reportedly becoming sep- his car after leaving a Seat- ney who specializes in rep- recent assaults have made
cago Police Department arated from friends follow- tle bar on Dec. 16. The King resenting ride-hailing driv- her more nervous even
spokesman Anthony Gug- ing an evening out at Co- County Sheriff's Office said ers and passengers. "You though she's already cau-
lielmi, adding that fraud- lumbia bars. She mistakenly the man led her to believe have to be aware of your tious.
ulent drivers are drawn got into a car driven by he was her driver before surroundings and think how "But I feel like in a way that's
to bars because people 24-year-old Nathaniel Da- pulling the car over and you would react if the situ- a good thing," she said.
might be drunk and not vid Rowland, according to raping her. A judge found ation turns sour ... you have "Now I will take even more
paying attention. authorities, who allege he probable cause to hold to listen to your instincts." precautions."q