Scared to go in the taxi alone

[Desperatehousewifeswasthebest]

Does anyone else have this?

I generally don’t drink much anymore, maybe the odd one and I drive or Dh does.
We have a 5 year old, I’m in my 40’s and did lots of going out in my youth.
I tend to meet friends for coffee or lunch and don’t really go out in the evenings much without family (some would say that’s quite boring 😅)
Anyway, my mums friends group have been trying to get it sorted to go out for a girls night for ages, it’s coming up. Dh will drop me off, which is fine, we’ll likely drink a bit so will get a taxi back, I’ve realised I’ll be the last on the journey so will be in the taxi alone. It’s sound so ridiculous but it’s making me so anxious
Does anyone else feel this?

Yes I often feel that way OP and I’m on edge a lot and overthink, but I have complex post traumatic stress disorder and EUPD so I associate it with this

I often worry that he’s gonna child-lock the doors and drive to a different location or even his own place or take me somewhere out of town. I tend to obsessively check the app to make sure he’s not going a dodgy route.

Is this some kind of weird fetish post? The amount of times you’re asking other women if they’re worried is weird

Sounds like an anxious woman to me trying to figure out if there’s at least someone who feels the way she does

omg OP, just stick a can of pepper spray in your handbag, take the taxis, come back and tell us in 5 years if you ever had a reason to use it

Please don’t do this OP. It’s illegal to carry and use pepper spray

I don't like taking taxis by myself either op I have anxiety aswell and tend to over think things I do have similar thoughts to what you describe but I try to push them aside and not let my anxiety rule my life, don't let your worries ruin your night out x

ah well, I stand corrected. Hairspray then, carry that, unless that's illegal too.

Maybe roach spray? Is that illegal to carry?

#Every day's a school day

@Desperatehousewifeswasthebest how long will you be in the taxi alone?

Im always last in the taxi, I just loudly tell the person before me I’ll text them when I get in, then I call my wife and tell her I’ll be back in x amount of time.

Probably over cautious of me, I’ve never had a negative experience with a taxi driver but a friend of mine was raped by one of our local ones.

I wouldn't jump in a rank cab at night now - never. I had two terrible experiences in cabs - one in London at night and one in Leeds. I use one private hire company and I know all the drivers. Because I use them a lot, they go out of their way for me. I would never use Uber either.

Thanks for all the responses, slightly concerned that so many are so shocked that it would worry me, perhaps there is something wrong with me 🤷🏻‍♀️I also wouldn’t walk home in the dark alone (used to numerous times when younger-down passages etc) and I also don’t love it with Dh is away. So it seems like it is just me and I have a higher level of anxiety than others in these situations?
I would so love to be as laid back as lots of others!

Are you from a culture where you tend to go with your husband and not be alone with other men? If so that could be a factor. Everyone’s life experiences are different, age factors into this too. Most people here are middle aged, you seem younger and if you’re shorter and smaller lacking physical strength and you overthink a lot, it makes you feel more vulnerable. Not saying you are but if you are then makes more sense.

@Evieanne Not from a culture like that at all, I’m mid forties, probably just become a massive scaredy-cat! Had awful experiences when younger with flashers, guys wanking at me etc, but pretty similar to most women I know sadly

OP, relax and watch the tennis! You can't get worried about things like this. You'll end up agoraphobic and never going out all all. Millions of women are getting Ubers all the time.

Why are you scared? The chances of anything happen are remote. Not all men and evil.
You call a taxi company (rather than Uber) and ask for a female driver just book in advance

My daughter always shares her Uber rides with me through the app - I can see where she is at all times.

She also leaves a hair in the car as evidence she was there.

Once she had a slightly creepy driver and reported him - Uber handled it really well.

She gets Ubers far too much in my opinion - but apart from that one time, she had always been safe.

Never crossed my mind to be worried about a taxi and I've taken tons and tons on my own. Take sensible precautions, phone your DH from the cab if you feel better that way.

As a PP points out, statistically you're much more likely to come to harm after you've got home, as sad as that is.

Umm no. Yabu.

OP Why don't you ring your DH and stay on the phone for the short part of the journey you are on your own?
If I was worried, that would be what I'd do.

Posted like @abyssofwoah who talk about high profile cases in the news...Well they're high profile because they're SO rare. Tens of thousands of people take taxis every day, and certainly in cities many of those will be lone women.

Taxis are so much more secure than they might have been in the past because of all the new technology that tracks them. Also people have phones so they're far less vulnerable, and less likely to be preyed on.

So yes, the very rare incidents are high profile news, simple because they happen infrequently enough to BE news.

No this is NOT an uncommon thing. Although I do suffer with anxiety myself.
I've never had an issue with Uber, but I had heard a number of horror stories about bolt.
I think it's perfectly reasonable to have worries about this.
After all, you're essentially entrusting a complete stranger with your safety. Albeit their job or not. You can never be too careful.
I'd recommend having a phone call when you're on your own, to make yourself feel more at ease :)

There's something counter intuitive about 'getting in a strange man's car' after being taught from childhood you must never do it. While your rational brain can tell you the statistics, the feelings of anxiety arising from placing your trust in an unknown man who has complete control over your situation can run deep.

Get a uber, if your husband also download the app, when you get in the cab, you can share your journey with your husband

We know that, but anxiety doesn't reason with statistics.

Yes I hate getting taxis alone and avoid doing it as much as reasonably possible.
I happily pay extra for airport/station parking to avoid getting taxis and for nights out I would rather drive and not drink than have to do a taxi alone.

I don't suffer with anxiety in other parts of my life and will do things that are much riskier objectively. It's just taxis that really bother me.