Uber app launches automated safety features to lower assault rates
Uber continues tightening safety measures to bolster faith among female passengers.
Rideshares first hit the streets in 2010, with Uber promising safe rides for city dwellers tired of hailing taxis, but ridesharing services were far from safe and secure for some female passengers. With a long history of legal battles regarding sexual harassment and sexual assault claims, Uber has worked to tighten safety measures to lower assault rates. The company announced on April 10, 2024, that app safety preferences are now automated to ensure passenger safety.
A Gallup poll reports 53% of women are afraid to walk alone at night, compared to 26% of men, and these numbers are higher among residents of cities (50%) over rural areas (30%). As Uber and other rideshares are a primary way of getting from A to B for city residents, passengers may feel safer requesting a ride through the app, but getting in the car is not always safer than braving a walk home.
An Uber U.S. safety report revealed 3,045 sexual assaults were reported in 2018, including 235 rapes, and 92% of the victims were riders. These numbers decreased in the company’s 2022 safety report with 998 sexual assaults and 141 rapes, which could be attributed to the increased safety measures offered by the Uber app.
Automated features
Uber created four safety preferences designed to curb sexual assault and harassment, which can now be automated, including:
- PIN verification: Riders can use a PIN code to ensure they get in the correct car with the assigned driver.
- Audio recording: Passengers can record their Uber ride and choose to send the audio to the Uber support team if something happens during their ride.
- Ride check-ins: The app can check on passengers if it detects the car veers off course or stops early.
- Trip sharing: Passengers may share their location and trip details with loved ones to feel more secure.
These four safety features can be adjusted through the app’s settings or by selecting a blue shield icon in the map. Uber’s announcement explained that riders can decide when these safety features are turned on, such as when they get a ride after 9 p.m. or leave specific locations like a bar.
Uber legal battles
Many lawsuits have accused Uber of failing to prevent sexual assaults, performing substandard background checks, and inadequately training drivers. In 2016, Uber paid a $28.5 million settlement and agreed to change its marketing language after safety promises lulled passengers into a false sense of security. The lawsuit alleged the company did not check the national sex offender registry or employ fingerprint identification to ensure drivers were not a threat to Uber customers. Over 400 lawsuits, including a class-action lawsuit, have been filed against the company for passenger harassment and assaults by drivers.
Related: