A New Safety Feature for Riders and Drivers
The ride-hailing company, Uber, is expanding its feature in the US, allowing female users of the app to choose female drivers for their rides, in an effort to address safety concerns following reports of sexual assaults and harassments in the company’s services in recent years.
The company is expanding its feature in the US as part of its efforts to improve safety for its users and encourage more women to drive for Uber. The company believes that this will create a comfortable atmosphere for many of its users who might feel unsafe when using the app.
The feature will allow female users of the app to select female drivers for their rides when they make their requests through the app. Female drivers will have the option of choosing female riders for their rides if they wish to do so, though it does not promise a female driver for the ride in all cases.
Growing Concerns Over Assault Reports
The decision comes as the ride-hailing service is under increased pressure over safety issues. In the last few years, there have been many reported cases of sexual assault that have taken place during the course of the ride-hailing service.
Safety reports that have been released by the company show that there have been thousands of cases of assault, including unwanted touch and other forms of assault. However, the company has stated that these cases represent a very small percentage of the billions of rides that take place through the service.
It has also been stated that the ride-hailing service must do more to protect its customers, especially women, as they tend to utilize the service when they are going somewhere late at night.
By providing the option to choose the female driver, the company is trying to solve the problem on at least one level.
Encouraging More Women Behind the Wheel
Another objective that the initiative seeks to fulfill is the increased number of women using the platform as drivers. Women account for a relatively low percentage of the total number of ride-hailing drivers in the United States.
One reason that has contributed to the low number of women using the service is the safety aspect.
According to Uber, it is hoping that the new capability that will enable women drivers to give priority to female riders will help alleviate some of the issues that women face and encourage women to consider becoming drivers with the company.
For some markets that the company has already rolled out the service, it has seen an increased number of women signing up to be drivers with the company.
Part of a Broader Safety Strategy
The female driver option is just one part of a broader initiative by Uber to enhance safety on its platform. In recent years, the company has announced a number of new safety features aimed at enhancing safety for both drivers and users.
Some of these safety measures include in-app emergency help options, ride tracking for users who can share their status with a friend or family member, background checks for drivers, and audio recording options for users in certain markets who feel uncomfortable during a ride.
Uber has also taken measures to enhance safety by stepping up its policies for dealing with safety-related complaints, including permanently banning users who fail safety checks by the company.
The ride-hailing industry still has a lot to do in enhancing safety on its platform despite these measures by Uber.
Courtesy Of Konrad Krajewski ( Flickr CC0)Expansion Across U.S. Cities
The female driver preference feature has been tested in various markets before its roll-out in more places in the US. In the early markets, the company collected feedback from the users and drivers before implementing the feature.
With the expanded roll-out, women users will be able to access the feature when they are requesting a ride through the app. Female drivers will be provided with the option to set their preferences as they drive and choose the hours they want to pick up women passengers.
Uber has stated that the feature will be flexible so that drivers can change their preferences as they see fit based on the demand and their comfort.
The company has not stated when they plan on rolling out the feature nationwide but has stated that they are working on bringing the feature to as many markets as possible in the coming months.
Industry-Wide Safety Pressure
However, this is not unique to Uber, and other companies in the ride-hailing industry have also faced similar issues, sparking debate on how technology companies can handle safety risks in peer-to-peer transportation services.
Regulatory bodies in many countries have also weighed the need to develop new guidelines regarding background checks, identification of drivers, and reporting incidents. Some lawmakers have also urged the need for greater transparency in this regard.
The development of additional features in the app, such as the option to select female drivers, may prove to be beneficial in showing that the companies are being proactive in addressing the problem.
Balancing Choice and Availability
Though this option has been viewed as a positive move by many users and drivers alike, it has also come with its own set of challenges. Since there are few women driving for these companies, at certain times there might be a lack of a female driver in a particular area.
In such cases, users might be paired with a male driver at certain times or be required to wait a little longer for a female driver. However, it must be noted that all drivers on this platform undergo the same safety checks irrespective of their gender.
Looking Ahead
Safety is expected to be one of the key issues for the ride-hailing industry as the service continues to be a significant part of the transportation system.
Uber’s extension of the ‘female driver preference’ feature is part of the company’s continued effort to address users’ concerns while at the same time improving the service to accommodate the needs of its diverse customer base.
It is yet to be seen whether the service will be effective in improving safety. Nevertheless, the company is hoping to increase trust in the service as it is used by millions of people across the United States on a daily basis.
By William Hernandez
Journalist for Vlixx Magazine, reporting on news from around the world, ensuring timely, accurate, and detailed information to keep the public informed and educated.
Sources:
Bloomberg: Uber Expands Female Driver Option in the US Amid Mounting Assault Cases
NY Times: Uber launches women-only option across the US
Featured Image Courtesy of Stock Catalog Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Konrad Krajewski Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
