By james art BATON ROUGE — A local rideshare driver approached UWK to share what she called a “torturous experience” in North Baton Rouge. She hopes this is an event that can now shine a light on the potential dangers in the ride-sharing industry.
The single mother, who asked to remain anonymous, told of the experience during a late-night drive-by inquiry on Eaton Street.
At first the address looked like a typical home, but when she arrived she found it led to an isolated complex—Fairwood Apartments—at the end of a long, dimly lit driveway.
“There are some apartments in the back, I think they are Fairwood Apartments. But I didn’t know that at the time because ridesharing only gives me an address,” she explained. The situation heightened her suspicions as she saw no visible cars or lights near the drop-off point.
“I’m on guard. I’m not stupid, she said. Keeping her safe, she stopped sharing her location, called ADT for emergency help, and decided not to proceed further to the pickup point.
She texted the rider, offering to meet her on the street. They refused, pressuring her to drive further into the compound. “They were like, where are you? Then I replied that I would not take you down there. I’m like, ‘You can come here on the street,'” she recalls.
Although she immediately contacted the rideshare safety team and filed a police report, she says she felt the need to warn others. Reflecting on her experience, she emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant:
“I don’t want other drivers to fall into this trap,” she said, noting that riders continue to text her claiming to be “all the way to the back of the dark apartment complex.”
“I had a friend who was killed while delivering pizza. You need to know what to look out for and be safe,” she added, expressing a strong desire to raise awareness of the risks ride-sharing and delivery drivers can face.
The driver filed a report with Baton Rouge Police and BRPD confirmed UWK they have the report filed and the case is under investigation.
Safety tips for rideshare and delivery drivers
- Stay in well-lit, populated areas: Avoid isolated or dimly lit places. If the area doesn’t seem safe to you, consider asking the rider to meet you in a more visible location.
- Use real-time location sharing: Inform a friend or family member of your location during night rides. Many safety apps, including ADT, can offer help if you feel at risk.
- Trust your instincts: If a pickup or delivery location looks suspicious, feel free to decline the request or leave the area. Your safety is more important than the trip.
- Maintain communication with company support: In the event of an unsafe situation, report it to your ridesharing or delivery company’s support team as soon as possible.
- Be on the lookout for potential pitfalls: Be wary of instructions that include diversion from public areas or require you to enter isolated areas.
- Keep emergency contacts available: Have a plan to quickly contact emergency services or nearby friends in the event of an emergency.
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