When I was in college, if we needed a ride, we would either call a friend or walk home. These days, however, millions of Americans rely on rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. And the truth is, many of us get into a rideshare vehicle without any clue who is behind the wheel. As someone who has spent a large part of my life in college towns and the past few years in Washington D.C., I know just how important rideshare drivers have become. While these apps provide a great service, they can also pose a serious threat to many passengers.

I have heard from countless people who have had negative—and sometimes even scary—rideshare experiences. If you have ever used Uber or Lyft in a big city like D.C. or New York, you have likely experienced a driver who doesn’t speak English. This begs further questions—is the driver able to read and obey road signs? If something goes wrong, would this driver be able to communicate what is going on or ask for help? Not to mention that some of these non-English speaking drivers don’t adhere to basic rules of the road.