Last weekend, 21-year-old University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson called for an Uber after leaving the popular college’s Five Point entertainment district around 2 a.m. 

What happened next is a every parent’s worst nightmare. Josephson got into a car that was not the Uber ride she had called for, but instead was driven by a predator.

She was found dead in a rural field three hours later, and her killer, the one who easily picked her up by impersonating an Uber driver, was arrested and charged with first degree murder.

Strangely enough, when I sent my kids to college without cars, ride services such as Uber and Lyft were the one thing giving me some comfort. I was overjoyed that we could save money on car insurance, gas, parking tickets, and other car-related expenses, and I was even more at peace that the chances of one of my sons driving drunk was greatly reduced because there was always a “safe” ride around the corner. Literally.

Visit any college campus and its surrounding bar scene, and there are Ubers lined up at the ready prepared to shuttle students safely home just mere minutes after they’re requested. No more standing around for an hour while waiting for a taxi, and students can even request vehicles that are able to accommodate several students at once. I often see several Uber charges on my credit card for amounts under $2.00, my son explaining to me, “It’s when a bunch of us share an Uber van home. It’s the cheapest way to go. We do it all the time!”

And therein lies the problem. Our young adults have grown so accustomed to the convenience, ease, and availability of ride services, they’ve become immune to the fact there are still potential dangers involved.

But those dangers aren’t limited to what an Uber or Lyft driver has the ability to do to a passenger; those dangers have become something else entirely. You see, because ride services like these have become so commonplace on campuses, when large groups of students go out to drink, they have no need for a designated driver. That means everyone in the group can and probably will be drinking, and all without one person staying sober.

But designated drivers do more than just drive. By staying sober, they’re also the remaining voice of reason and judgment, and can ensure everyone gets home safely—even when it’s with a ride share service. When the evening drinking plans include everyone just being able to get a ride home with Uber, everyone partakes, which means nobody is clear-headed enough to ensure the rides home are legitimate and safe.

We can remind students over and over again about all the ways they can check and double-check how to verify it is an actual Uber vehicle, but when their judgment is clouded, how can we expect them to have the wherewithal to even remember, let alone go through all the safety tips?

This week, in the aftermath of the Josephson tragedy, lawmakers in South Carolina have proposed a bill that would make it easier for riders to identify Uber and Lyft cars. The proposal would require drivers to display illuminated stickers on their windshields. Under current law, only reflective decals are required. The bill, which was filed by Representative Seth Rose, who lives just minutes from where Josephson was picked up, plans to name it the Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Safety Act. Seymour Josephson, Samantha’s father, supports the bill, and said he plans to put pressure on those ridesharing companies to better identify their vehicles.

He stated, “Samantha was by herself, she had absolutely no chance.”

By herself.  

That may be the single most crucial aspect we can take away from this as parents and students.

Samantha Josephson was alone at the time she was picked up by her killer, and whether or not she was drinking or her judgment was impaired doesn’t really matter, but her being alone absolutely does.

If you’re a college student and you’re reading this, it’s imperative you never leave someone in your nighttime partying crowd alone to get home on their own. Never. If you’re a young man, it’s your responsibility to escort the females home, to make sure they’re not getting into any car alone with a stranger, and to most definitely  accompany them if you all choose to use a ride share service. If you’re a young woman, it’s your responsibility to watch out for yourself and your friends, and to never assume they can get home safely alone.

And even though you all won’t need a sober member or designated driver to get everyone home, it’s still a smart and safe idea for someone in the group to STAY SOBER. 

Look at it this way: you can think of them not a designated driver, but as a designated rider.

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Check out our new Keepsake Companion Journal that pairs with our So God Made a Mother book!

Order Now
So God Made a Mother's Story Keepsake Journal

Melissa Fenton

Melissa Fenton is a freelance writer, adjunct librarian, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Awareness Ambassador. She writes at http://www.4boysmother.com/. Her writing can be found all over the internet, but her work is mostly on the dinner table.

Mom Showed Me What It Means to Be a Caregiver

In: Grief, Grown Children, Loss
Grown woman with her mother smiling, color photo

My mother is an extraordinary woman. She inspires me to be a better person. She has spent seven years selflessly caring for my father after a horrific battle with Stage IV tongue cancer. During this time she would laugh with me, cry with me, and express her fears and frustrations with me. My mother is the definition of strength and courage while surrounded by heartbreak and human suffering. During the time my mother was taking care of my father she had her own health issues. Her colon perforated in 2012 making her critically ill. It’s nothing short of a miracle...

Keep Reading

There’s No Place on Earth More Full of Love than Grandma’s House

In: Grown Children, Living
Grandma helping little girl cook

I have this theory that every grandma’s house has its own smell. For mine, her house always smells like the same perfume she’s worn my whole life. I can’t tell you the name of her perfume, but I can tell you what it looks like and exactly where she keeps it on her bathroom cabinet. Occasionally the smell of freshly baked cookies overpowers the smell of her perfume at my grandma’s house. Knowing her signature recipes, I can tell you within a few seconds of walking in the door just exactly what she has in the oven. I imagine other grandmas’ houses smell...

Keep Reading

What a Blessing It Is to Be Your Other Mother

In: Grown Children, Motherhood
Mother-in-law with daughter-in-law in wedding dress, color photo

I remember the beautiful January day when I first caught a glimpse of you in your white lace dress. You were breathtakingly beautiful as we snapped a quick picture together. My heart swelled with pride, knowing you had trusted me to see your final preparations before walking down the aisle and marrying my son. That day, I gained another daughter, and you a mother. I know you didn’t need another mother; I agree that your own is pretty close to perfect, but I am grateful that you accepted me. Thank you for allowing me to stand beside you that day....

Keep Reading

When the Grandparents Are Still Working, Your Support System Looks Different

In: Grown Children, Motherhood
Child kissing grandma on cheek

I had my kids in my 20s, and yes it was hard, but probably not for the reason you think. People discourage you from having kids young because it could jeopardize your career, keep you from traveling, or eat into your savings, etc. For me, my kids are my world, and I don’t think I jeopardized anything by having them. They can travel with my husband and me. My savings account isn’t as cushioned as it was before I had my kids, but that doesn’t matter to me. The most difficult thing about having kids in my 20s is not having...

Keep Reading

Dear Dad, I Pray for Our Healing

In: Faith, Grief, Grown Children
Back shot of woman on bench alone

You are on my mind today. But that’s not unusual. It’s crazy how after 13 years, it doesn’t feel that long since I last saw you. It’s also crazy that I spend far less time thinking about that final day and how awful it was and spend the majority of the time replaying the good memories from all the years before it. But even in the comfort of remembering, I know I made the right decision. Even now, 13 years later, the mix of happy times with the most confusing and painful moments leaves me grasping for answers I have...

Keep Reading

Mom’s Special Recipe Means More This Year

In: Grown Children, Living
Bowl full of breadcrumbs and celery, color photo

Three weeks before Easter, my family and I stood in the hallway talking to a team of doctors whom we had flagged down. We were anxiously inquiring about my mom, who was in the ICU on life support. We hadn’t been able to connect with the doctors for over 48 hours, so it was important for us to check in and see what was going on. The head doctor began discussing everything they had observed in the scans and what it meant for my mom’s quality of life. Every word made our hearts break. The doctor continued to talk about...

Keep Reading

When Your Son Grows Up, You Will Remember This

In: Grown Children, Motherhood
Mother and son posing in older portrait, color photo

When your son turns 50, you will remember how, when he was a baby, he would kick the arm of the rocking chair just when you thought he was finally asleep and wake himself up for another 15 minutes of grinning and rocking. And you will smile at the memory. When your son turns 50, you will remember the endless walks through the neighborhood you took with him rain or shine because your husband had the only car for the family at work. You always visited the little wooden bridge that ran across a tiny stream, and he would jump...

Keep Reading

I’m So Lucky to Have Parents Like Mine

In: Grown Children, Living, Motherhood
Husband and wife, smiling, color photo

I was reminded recently that not everyone has parents like mine. I’ve always known it in theory, but seeing it around me is different. Getting to know and love people from different kinds of homes is eye-opening, and it made me realize something . . . I’m so lucky to have parents like mine. So, here’s to the parents who show up. The ones who work full time but still manage to make it to seemingly all your school functions, church outings, and sporting events. Here’s to the parents who took the time to sit down to dinner with you...

Keep Reading

In These Teen Years, I Wonder If I’m Doing Enough

In: Grown Children, Motherhood, Teen
Boy walking in the ocean surf

It’s a strange feeling to look back at all the years as a parent and wonder if I am doing enough. My boys are teens. One of them has just a few baby steps left until he heads into life after living under our roof. He is fiercely independent. One of those kids who I have for my whole life mistaken for being years older than he actually is. The kind of kid who can hold a conversation that reminds you of when you are out with your friends enjoying a bottle of wine at a restaurant made for middle-aged...

Keep Reading

18 Years Went by In a Flash

In: Grown Children, Motherhood, Teen
Girl walking into college dorm

If I close my eyes, I can conjure the feather-light weight of my newborn daughter. At under five pounds, my tiny bundle of love looked up at me with eyes so big and bright I swore they could discern my soul. No one warned me then of the chaotic parenthood journey ahead. So many firsts and lasts would pepper our paths. Her first word, steps, and school day flew by amongst a whirlwind of activities designed to keep us both occupied—park play dates, music classes, and mom and baby yoga occupied much of our early days. I recorded everything in...

Keep Reading