In recent years, public concern has been growing about ground transportation safety. This is especially with regards to safety-related news stories that have come to the forefront and involve ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft that depend on smartphone-based ride-hailing apps. A couple of accidents involving limos too have been in the news though the reasons primarily appear to be the lack of the driver’s credentials, a vehicle that was maintained properly, and the sheer negligence on part of the limo service provider. When you hire a reliable and competent luxury limo service in San Francisco, CA such as Pacific Town Car (PTC), you can rest assured to steer clear of such accidents and other safety issues. However, it’s natural for several riders to wonder what their rights are as passengers, or how they can ensure a safe ride, or what exactly could they expect from their ground transportation companies and the driver at the wheel of their vehicle. Those planning to hire a luxury limo service in San Francisco, CA for special occasions or business meetings are also in a dilemma about making that limo booking as they are somewhat unsure about how safe their ride would be. This brings us to the big questions: how safe limo rides actually are?
The answer is they are extremely safe provided you put your trust in a reliable company like Pacific Town Car (PTC) that has been serving its clients for years and has an enviable record for providing safe, on-time ground transportation service. Whether you are looking to hire a towncar service, San Francisco, CA or a stretch limo or a black car service in San Francisco, CA to arrive at your destination in style and utmost comfort, you need to exercise due diligence while choosing your luxury limo service provider. That’s what could ensure your safety on the road. Perhaps you are now wondering what if there was a checklist to help you decide if your shortlisted provider of a luxury limo service in San Francisco, CA was the right choice. To help you make an informed decision, given below is a checklist of the most important points that you should consider before booking your ride.
1- Ask to have a look at the vehicle before booking your ride
Whether you have chosen to reserve a black Lincoln Towncar service in San Francisco, CA or a sedan limousine, it is wise to request to take a look at the vehicle before finalizing its booking. During such a visit, you can check the vehicle from close quarters, ask questions about the type of tires used (say, Michelin tires that have the highest load rating, etc.) and if they are capable of carrying not only the weight of the vehicle (which is more than a passenger car or standard sedan) but also the anticipated load of the passengers and their luggage. If it’s a reliable company that maintains its vehicles well, it would be willing to show you the vehicle. If it doesn’t or tries to evade the issue, that’s a red flag and you should consider hiring your vehicle from another company. In case the company lets you see the vehicle and you are happy with the condition it’s in, you can ask for a written guarantee to secure getting the vehicle that you have seen. Remember not to wait until the rental day to take a look at and secure a particular vehicle because by then, it could be too late.
2- Check past client reviews
Did you know 90% of customers read online reviews before they visit a business? And that 88% of customers trust online reviews to the extent as if they were personal recommendations made by a trusted friend/partner/family? Just like any other business, a luxury limo service in San Francisco, CA too is likely to have online reviews (posted on third-party sites like Yelp, Google, etc.) posted by its previous customers. Browsing and reading such reviews would give you important insights about the reliability, professionalism, and expertise of the service provider. In case there were some issues with the service provider or how fast it reacted to problems, if any, reported by its customers, are important factors that such reviews could let you know about. When you consider the price of towncar from San Francisco to SFO when you have an important flight to catch, it surely pays to know in advance what you can expect against the price you will be paying for such a luxury ride. And browsing past customer reviews is the best place to know what you want to in order to ensure having a safe and on-time ride.
3- Do your own homework
Don’t believe everything that you have been told by your chosen luxury limo service in San Francisco, CA. Instead, be diligent and do your research to get the truth behind the facts, which could often be distorted or false.
The first step is to ensure that the company is legitimate and not some fly-by-night operator with dubious credibility, who’s out there to make a quick buck by comprising with your safety.
A careful look at the vehicle from close quarters (as mentioned below), if possible, is another step to ensure the vehicle, which would be allotted to you, is safe to ride in. Having your limo arrive 10-15 minutes earlier than the designated time is better as it gives you the chance to kick the tires and check if they seem capable of carrying the added weight of the vehicle as well as that of the passengers and their luggage. You should also check for safety equipment such as jumper cables, a spare tire, a fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit. In addition, ensure the lights, the windows, the air conditioning as well as the locks are functioning properly.
To ensure your designated driver is responsible, ask for his credentials. A reliable and experienced company like Pacific Town Car (PTC) properly vets its drivers and ensures that they pass criminal history checks as well as a medical examination. Additionally, drivers are checked for proper licenses and if they have got all local or state certifications before they are hired, made to undergo a short training/orientation program, and put on monitored test rides. After clearing all these steps successfully, a driver is finally allowed in the field to transport passengers from one destination to another.
As part of your own research, you should also check your chosen limo provider’s federal safety record. You can view it at the SAFER (Safety and Fitness Electronic Records) System website of the FMCA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), which is within the U.S. DOT (Department of Transportation).
4- Check the vehicle for seatbelts
When you are looking to hire a black car service in San Francisco, CA or a towncar service, San Francisco, CA, riding in utmost luxury and feeling refreshed when you arrive at your destination are perhaps the top few things playing on your mind. Seatbelts may either be placed far down on the list or not feature at all on your list of things to think or worry about. And this could be especially because it’s not compulsory for limousines to have seatbelts for rear passengers. Yet, it would be a good idea to request a vehicle that would come equipped with them. Wearing seatbelts while your chosen luxury sedan or towncar is moving would let you ensure your safety on the road.
5- Trust your instincts
Despite all these safety measures, it’s still possible for something to be amiss. In such cases, you shouldn’t ignore your instincts, especially when it tells you something doesn’t feel right. From finding your designated vehicle on the rental day to be in poor working condition (or when it appears to be in such a condition) to noticing your driver is high or drunk, or disoriented, your instinct could be the first to tell you about these red flags. Make sure to trust your instincts and respond appropriately to steer clear of putting yourself (or your loved ones or those whom you know such as your colleagues or other co-riders) in danger. The appropriate response could involve requesting a different vehicle or driver. If something feels dangerous or wrong when your ride is in progress and you believe you are in danger, you shouldn’t hesitate to call 911.
Hiring a towncar service, San Francisco, CA to enjoy your Napa Valley wine tour or booking a black car service in San Francisco, CA to arrive in style for a business meeting sound like the ideal way to impress onlookers and even create your own signature style statement. Even when you are planning to hire airport pick-up and drop-off services, it pays to be diligent with your homework and safety issues, especially considering the price of towncar from San Francisco to SFO that you will end up paying. While the above checklist will surely help you to ensure a safe ride onboard a limo, booking your vehicle from a luxury limo service in San Francisco, CA such as Pacific Town Car (PTC) would let you rest assured that your ride would not only be safe but would be seamless and on time as well.