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- Ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft have changed the way people commute and get around, but they include the potential for new dangers.
- Following a murder in April after a college student mistook a car for her Uber ride, Lyft and Uber have increased in-app safety measures,
- If these aren't enough to make you feel safe, consider these four different smartphone apps that can keep you secure in a rideshare.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
This year, Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old University of South Carolina college student, was kidnapped and murdered after mistakenly getting into a car she believed to be her Uber ride.
The nightmare events led to increased safety measures across the ride-hailing app and its competitor, Lyft.
In response, Uber launched the Campus Safety Initiative, which includes designated pickup zones on college campuses and a "Check Your Ride" push notification.
Uber competitor Lyft has also expanded safety measures this year, including in-app emergency assistance and increased license plate visibility on the app's interface.
"Lyft is relentlessly focused on finding new ways to further strengthen safety measures on our platform," said Lyft's Head of Trust & Safety Mary Winfield in a statement at the time.
When entering a rideshare, riders are advised to always check the make, model, and license plate number of the ride and confirm with the driver who the rider is supposed to be. However, if these tips and the new in-app safety measures aren't enough, here are four different smartphone apps that can help keep you safe in a rideshare.
