Uber unveils new campus safety initiative in wake of student’s murder

Uber introduced a new set of campus safety measures on Thursday, weeks after a University of South Carolina (USC) student was killed after getting into a car she thought was her Uber ride.

The Campus Safety Initiative, launched in collaboration with USC, will focus on helping students avoid fake rideshare drivers, the company said in a release.

The measures will create an alert system that will debut in South Carolina on Thursday and be rolled out across the rest of the app’s user base in the next few days.{mosads}

The steps will include a “Check Your Ride” reminder for riders, including verifying drivers’ license plates and identities before getting into a rideshare.

Riders will also receive a push notification reminding them to follow the steps after calling a car.

Starting at the University of South Carolina, Uber will also be adding designated pickup zones that will be well-lit and have law enforcement present.

“I am pleased to partner with Uber on a new Campus Safety Initiative along with other important advances,” University of South Carolina President Harris Pastides said.

“By promoting essential safety tips such as Check Your Ride and the university’s What’s My Name campaign, I truly believe we can help ensure ridesharing is safe for all students.”

The initiative comes just weeks after a man was charged in the murder of USC student Samantha Josephson, 21. Josephson was last seen on March 29 outside of Five Points bar in Columbia, South Carolina, getting into a car she reportedly thought was her Uber ride.