Most rides are uneventful. The habits below cost almost nothing and matter enormously on the rare occasion something is wrong.
Match the registration before you open the door
The number plate on the car should match the one in your booking. This is the single most useful check, and the easiest to skip when it is raining.
Confirm the driver, do not announce yourself
Ask the driver who they are collecting rather than offering your own name first. It takes a second and closes the most obvious gap.
Share the trip
Send the trip details to someone before you set off. Anyone travelling alone, late at night or in an unfamiliar city should treat this as routine rather than exceptional.
Sit where you can see
Travelling alone, the rear seat gives you the clearest view of the route and the most room to act if something feels wrong.
Trust the feeling
If a ride feels wrong, end it somewhere public and busy. The cost of a cancelled trip is trivial next to the alternative.
