Calling 911 Should Always Be Your First Move. Not Uber.

We recently saw a health and wellness influencer on social media speak about a terrifying experience in an Uber from LAX. She felt unsafe during the ride and used the in-app safety feature to ask for help. Their advice? “Get out of the vehicle.” But how was she supposed to jump out of a moving car—on the 405 freeway?

What troubled us even more was that, instead of immediately calling 911, she placed her trust in the very company that had put her in a risky situation through unsafe business practices to begin with. It’s concerning to think they would prioritize her safety when their interests may not align with hers. This isn’t a critique of her decision; she was following advice that has been marketed as a safety measure. The reality is, women—and anyone in emergency situations—should be encouraged to call 911, rather than being directed to use built-in features.

This incident highlights a crucial issue: while technology offers tools like panic buttons and emergency apps, they should never replace the direct, immediate action of calling 911. Doing so ensures:

You get a timely response.
Your location is accurately tracked.
First responders can adequately assess the situation and send the right help.

Relying on private safety features instead of trained emergency responders can lead to delays, misinformation, and even more danger. Here’s why calling 911 should always be your first move:

Emergency Services Work for You—Private Safety Features Do Not

One of the biggest dangers of relying on private safety services is that they are not public emergency responders. First responders—such as 911, police, firefighters, and paramedics—are government-funded services that exist to protect and serve citizens. They are trained, accountable, and, most importantly, legally required to respond to emergencies. In contrast, private safety services such as the Uber In-App Safety Feature are businesses prioritizing profit over public safety. Some companies might delay alerting emergency responders to verify alerts first, which can lead to critical delays in a crisis. Additionally, their limited reach may hinder their ability to provide immediate assistance in rural or remote areas.

Delayed Emergency Response

Routing through a third-party monitoring service before emergency responders are contacted adds precious seconds—or even minutes—to response time. Calling 911 directly ensures immediate contact with first responders, who can track your location in real-time and have access to accurate identifying information.

False Sense of Security

Relying on non-emergency personnel to respond when needed is dangerous and can create a false sense of security. Even the technology itself is not foolproof. Systems can fail due to weak signals or software glitches. How can you be sure the authorities were contacted on your behalf? There is no guarantee, and vital time could be lost.

Limited Communication with Dispatchers

When you call 911, you can provide real-time details about your location, injuries, or threats. Even if you dial it and leave it on the speaker without saying anything, 911 can still respond. Many safety features send only limited information to the authorities, like GPS coordinates and vehicle descriptions, lack information about weapons, or lack of crucial context. This lack of detail makes it harder for emergency responders to assess the situation and provide the right help quickly.

Inaccurate Location Tracking

While some devices boast advanced GPS technology, they are not always precise. A safety feature might send emergency responders to a general area. Still, they may struggle to find you if you are inside a building, in a parking garage, or in a rural location. Calling 911 allows you to give exact details that improve accuracy, as dispatch knows what questions to ask to find you most efficiently.

Every Call is Treated as an Emergency When You Call 911

If you become unconscious, your phone dies, or you cannot speak, would an Uber employee on an app chat line know how to respond? 911 has procedures to assess the situation and immediately get emergency responders to your location. Don’t leave your safety to chance.

The Bottom Line

This doesn’t mean safety features are useless—but they are only a backup. Technology is a helpful tool, but it should never be your first or only line of defense in an emergency. If you are in immediate danger, don’t rely solely on automated safety features—pick up the phone and call 911. Your safety depends on it.