We know that ridesharing apps like Lyft and Uber make getting around very easy and convenient. If you decide to use one of these services, remember SAMI!
- Stop and plan ahead. Review the safety features on the app before requesting a ride and know how to utilize them to your benefit.
- Ask your driver, “what’s my name” to confirm they have booked a trip with you through the ridesharing app.
- Match the make, model, and license plate of the car with the information displayed on the app.
- Inform others about the details of your trip. Utilize the “share status” feature in your ridesharing app.
The SAMI principal for rideshare safety stems from an incident in 2019, where Samantha Josephson called an Uber at around 2 a.m. after separating from her roommates during a night out in Columbia, South Carolina. She, a 21-year-old senior at the University of South Carolina, was kidnapped and murdered after being targeted by a fake Uber driver. After her passing, her parents, Seymour and Marci Josephson, launched the #WHATSMYNAME foundation that aimed to educate other college students and individuals on the importance of rideshare safety so other families would not have to suffer through this kind of loss.
We urge students to remember SAMI and ask #WHATSMYNAME before getting into a rideshare vehicle. If you feel like you’re in danger, please call 911 or DPS immediately.
For more information, refer to the official website for the #WHATSMYNAME foundation, https://www.whatsmyname.org. DPS also encourages everyone to also familiarize yourself with these suggested safety strategies.