From the Washington Post, “Uber discloses 3,000 reports of sexual assault on U.S. rides last year in its long-awaited safety study.” This is the first time a ride-sharing company has disclosed the scale of this safety problem.
Both Uber and Lyft say they have implemented changes to address these safety concerns including increased screening and background checks for drivers. They have continuous background checks of their drivers. Uber is also notified if a new criminal offense involving a current driver is identified. Uber drivers are periodically checked so that the right driver is behind the wheel. Both Uber and Lyft have 24/7 incident support teams. All rides are tracked by GPS. Uber has built RideCheck to help detect if a trip seems to be off-course or if there has been an accident.
Some Safety Tips for Ridesharing Passengers
Wait inside until your apps says the driver has arrived.
Match the license plate, car make and model, and driver photo to what’s provided in your app – before you get into the car.
Ask the driver to confirm your name before you get into the car.
Ride in the back seat.
Share your Trip status in the app with a friend or family member.
Trust your instincts. You can call 911 by using the in-app Emergency Button located in your app. The app gives your current location and vehicle so that you can share with emergency dispatchers.
You can report any uncomfortable interactions directly to safety specialists.