On February 16, a North Carolina passenger got an unexpected ride from his Lyft driver. Speeds hit more than 120 miles per hour. The unidentified passenger said he heard the Lyft driver rev the engine, and the car quickly accelerated. With his cell phone camera, the rider recorded the car’s speedometer hitting more than 130 mph.
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The lead-footed Lyft driver drove so fast in his Dodge Charger SRT that the North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper who spotted him was unable to catch up. After the driver saw the NC patrol car’s flashing lights, he told the passenger he needed to go because he didn’t want to go to jail. He went as far as to shut his car lights off to avoid police.
The trooper clocked his speed at double the 55-mph limit but was unable to catch up with him until after the passenger was dropped off. The driver was charged with speeding in a 55-mph zone and reckless driving. Moreover, he has been deactivated as a Lyft driver.
“Safety is Lyft’s top priority, and any behavior threatening the safety or comfort of any community member is not tolerated,” Lyft stated. “We have permanently deactivated the driver and reached out to the passenger to offer our support. We have also reached out to law enforcement and stand ready to assist in any investigation.”
Most Uber or Lyft ride services are safe and are widely popular. However, since the services were launched there have been reports of passengers being sexually assaulted by drivers or by someone posing as a ride-share driver. Furthermore, there have been many cases of imposter drivers who prey on people looking for a Lyft or Uber driver.
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Lyft and Uber safety tips
Here are some tips for what to do before, during and after your Uber or Lyft ride in order to stay safe when using rideshare apps:- Wait indoors until your driver arrives
- Make sure the license plate and the driver’s photo and name match the information on your smartphone’s app
- Ask the driver the name of the passenger (you) he or she is supposed to be picking up
- Don’t ride shotgun — solo riders should ride in the backseat of the car
- Ride with others
- When you are en route, use the “share status” in the app to provide details of your driver and the car’s license plate with someone else
- Never reveal personal information to the driver
- Rate your driver — this is one way companies can take action against inappropriate conduct by its drivers