Rideshare users debate where to sit in a stranger’s car to feel safest: ‘Front seat in an Uber is wild behavior’

Shotgun or backseat? That’s the real question.

In the current rideshare era, riders online are debating what’s safer when getting into a car: sitting in the front or back seat.

“I’m only finding out that there are women who sit in the backseats of Ubers?’ user Luna M. (@tiredfeminist_) posted on X recently, igniting the discussion.

“I always sit in the front. There is nothing I fear more than child lock protection,” which refers to the feature that lets drivers stop backseat passengers from opening doors from the inside. 

For the paranoid, it’s a kidnapping risk. But critics point out: if a driver’s really out to snatch you, locked doors are the least of your worries.

Some commenters in the thread backed Luna M., but plenty pushed back — saying the front seat is just as risky, if not worse. Others simply called it bizarre.

“Front seat in an Uber is wild behavior,” one user scoffed. 

Another warned, “I feel like this makes being held at gunpoint easier. I sit behind the driver.”

Others took a darker — and snarkier — spin. “I want to sit in front, so I kick and pull and even the hand brakes won’t be safe,” one wrote. 

Another quipped, “Sitting in the front says ‘I trust you.’ Sitting in the back says ‘I have seen true crime documentaries.’ We are not the same.”

While clearly it’s a personal choice for riders, Uber’s own rulebook, however, is clear. According to its website, the company suggests that “Whenever possible, sit in the back seat, especially if you’re riding alone.”

This, they say, “helps ensure that you can safely exit on either side of the vehicle to avoid moving traffic, and it gives you and your driver some personal space.”

Speaking of rideshare safety, one TikTokker went viral this past spring after warning of rideshare dangers she’d heard “way too many horror stories” about.

Dannah Eve, who has a background in criminology and psychology, stressed the basics: always check the license plate and make the driver say your name before hopping in.

But she also added one more no-brainer — don’t take food or drinks from your driver.

Eve noted most drivers offering a water bottle, a mint or a snack are just being nice. Still, she cautioned, there’s always a chance the gesture could come with bad intentions.

“I’ve unfortunately heard way too many horror stories. Even if the bottled water or snack is sealed,” Eve said, “it’s not worth the risk.”

“Politely decline and never ingest anything. There are, unfortunately, very bad people out there and remember your safety comes before anybody else’s feelings,” she added.

And here’s another no-brainer for riders: keep your eyes up and stay present.

“Stay off your phone. Head up and be aware of what’s going on. Be aware of the direction you’re heading in,” Eve went on. “A distracted person is an easy target. Don’t be one.”

Ultimately, when it comes to Uber etiquette, the rule is simple: whether you ride shotgun or back, keep your wits sharp, your eyes open — and maybe save the snack for later.