BREAKING: Uber has just announced a groundbreaking feature aimed at enhancing safety for women on its platform. Starting next month, women drivers and riders in the U.S. will have the ability to request matches exclusively with female counterparts, providing greater comfort and control during rides.
This innovative tool, set to pilot in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit, allows female passengers to select a preference in their app settings to ensure they are paired with women drivers when booking or pre-booking rides. Women drivers will also have the option to drive exclusively for female passengers.
Camiel Irving, Uber’s Vice President of U.S. and Canada operations, emphasized the importance of this feature, stating, “It’s about giving women more choice, more control, and more comfort when they ride and drive.” Although the rider’s preference is not guaranteed, this feature significantly boosts the likelihood of female pairings.
The pilot program follows successful tests in countries like France, Germany, and Argentina, indicating Uber’s commitment to addressing safety concerns. This isn’t Uber’s first initiative targeting gender preferences; in 2019, the company introduced a similar feature in Saudi Arabia after women gained the right to drive. That program later expanded to approximately 40 countries.
Safety has been a critical concern for ride-hailing services, with numerous incidents of sexual assault and harassment reported. A 2015 survey by Uber revealed that only 20% of its U.S. drivers were women, highlighting the need for safer options. In response, Uber has launched various safety features in recent years, including teen accounts and rider verification options.
In the competitive landscape of ride-hailing, rival Lyft introduced a similar feature in late 2023, allowing women and nonbinary drivers to connect with female and nonbinary riders. As these platforms evolve, the focus on safety and comfort remains paramount.
What happens next? Keep an eye on the pilot program’s rollout in the coming weeks and how it may reshape the ride-hailing experience for women across the U.S. With Uber taking a significant step forward, this development could pave the way for broader industry changes.
Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent and evolving story.
