HOUSTON – This week’s revelation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, implicating four rideshare drivers in separate kidnapping and sexual assault incidents, has naturally raised safety concerns for passengers.
Michael Matranga, a former member of the United States Secret Service, is the CEO of M6 Global Defense. His job is to make sure potentially high value targets stay safe.
Matranga, in an interview with KPRC 2, suggested that a passenger might have a better tactical advantage against a rideshare driver, if she sits directly behind the driver.
“I think sitting behind them is more important because now they’re going to have to literally reach around in order to grab you, they’re gonna have to get up out of their seat. Make it harder for them to be able to get you, right? So sitting behind is what I would encourage,” Matranga said.
Matranga also encourages rideshare customers to travel with a friend, citing the “buddy system”.
“Also, I’d never encourage the riders to take food or drinks from these individuals, you never know what their intentions are. So, increased situational awareness is super important. It appears that these people were targeted because they were either inebriated or incapacitated in some way. It’s unfortunate this is the world that we’re living in, but what I will tell you is I don’t think it’s going to get any better,” Matranga said.
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