Thanksgiving Eve: 4 Rideshare Safety Tips for Your Bar Night in Michigan

The biggest bar night of the year is rapidly approaching: Thanksgiving Eve.

I've spent plenty of Wednesdays before Thanksgiving at my hometown dive bar with friends. There's something about the fact that so many old friends are in town for the holidays that makes it an extra fun night.

You know what happens at a bar... drinking. And it's always everyone's first duty to drink responsibly, either by picking a designated driver or ordering a rideshare.

Services like Uber or Lyft are available in lots of areas. You just set a pick up and drop off location, then you’ll be matched with a driver who can take you where you’re going.

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One key part of this is – you’re basically doing what your parents warned you never to do: getting in a car with a stranger.

Rideshare Safety Tips

While companies like Lyft and Uber do background checks on the drivers, that doesn't mean there haven't been more than a few scary stories.

To make sure you have a safe and fun bar night out this Thanksgiving Eve, here are four things you should be doing as a rideshare passenger.

Tell a friend or family member where you're going

It's always a good idea to let someone know you're about to use a rideshare. Sometimes there are tracking links that you can send someone right from the app. Otherwise, just tell them where you're going, when you should be there, and the name of your driver. Just be sure to text this buddy when you've arrived safely at your location.

Double-check all ride details

• The vehicle that pulls up should match the make and model of what's listed in the app.
• The license plate should match what's listed in the app.
• Ask the driver their name (don’t say ‘Are you Bob?’) — it should match what’s in the app.

Keep the rideshare app open during the drive

By keeping the app open, you can see the route the driver should be taking. Additionally, it gives you immediate access to the app's 911 safety feature.

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Wear your seatbelt

The law in Michigan is 'click-it or ticket', which means buckle up! Keep yourself safe in the event of an accident.