May 26, 2020

By: Tyler Eckel

BORDENTOWN TWP (BURLINGTON)– The Bordentown Township Police Department and Bordentown City Police Department kicked off a rideshare safety campaign yesterday afternoon.

The campaign was kicked off in conjunction with the WHATSMYNAME Foundation and all the alcohol serving establishments located in both Bordentown City and Township.

On March 29, 2019, Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old senior at the University of South Carolina from Robbinsville, NJ, was kidnapped and murdered after being targeted by a person posing as a rideshare driver. Immediately following this unfathomable tragedy, Samantha’s parents, Seymour and Marci Josephson, set out to educate others on the importance of rideshare safety so that no other family would have to suffer this kind of loss, and the “WHATSMYNAME Foundation was established in honor of their daughter.

Yesterday, Seymour Josephson, father of Samantha, discussed safety measures that rideshare users should take before entering a vehicle.

S.A.M.I.

• Stop – Plan ahead. Before you request a ride, think about where you’re headed and review the safety features in the app so you know how to use them.
• Ask – Ask your driver, “What’s My Name?” to confirm they have booked a trip with you through the ride sharing app.
• Match – Match the make, model, and license plate of the car with the one displayed on the app.
• Inform – Share the details of your trip with a friend. Utilize the share status function in your ride sharing app.

In June of 2019, Governor Murphy signed “Sami’s Law” which enhances safety for rideshare passengers by requiring additional identification for drivers.

Signs that display these safety reminders were distributed to all of the City and Town’s alcohol establishments and will be prominently displayed to help promote rideshare safety in the area.

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