Uber’s New Feature to Pair Women Drivers and Riders
On Wednesday, July 23rd, Uber announced that it will be piloting a new feature that will allow women passengers to match with women drivers when booking or pre-booking rides, and women drivers to match with women passengers. The program will pilot in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit next month. Women riders will be able to utilize this feature by creating a preference in the app settings or by requesting a trip on demand and selecting the “Women Drivers” option for pickup. For women drivers, a “Women Rider Preference” toggle will be available in their app settings that they can turn on or off at any time. Uber has stated that although women riders can select this preference, the rider’s preference is not guaranteed, but the feature increases the likelihood that women will be paired in the app.
Why is Uber Creating a Women’s Preference Feature?

Uber has stated that the feature is designed to provide women with more choice, control, and comfort when they ride or drive using Uber. Additionally, the feature is being introduced in response to women riders and drivers across the United States who have expressed a desire to be matched with other women on trips. The desire for a women’s preference feature comes after years of ride-sharing apps, like Uber and Lyft, facing safety concerns about sexual assault and harassment incidents that have occurred during or after rides. The new women’s preference feature is designed to provide an additional layer of safety for both riders and drivers and ensure that women feel more comfortable calling an Uber when they need to go somewhere.
If you have been the victim of a sexual assault by an Uber driver or passenger, know that you have the right to seek damages from the perpetrator and Uber. Uber had a duty to keep you safe and failed to prevent or address sexual assault. At Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., our Houston sexual assault attorneys can help you understand your rights as a victim and fight for the recovery you deserve.
Rideshare apps, such as Uber, are designed to provide a safe and convenient way for people to travel from one location to another. However, these platforms have faced several safety concerns despite implementing various safety features like background checks and emergency assistance. One of the main safety concerns, especially for women, is the high volume of sexual assault incidents. In their 2021-2022 Safety Report, Uber stated that there were 2,717 reported instances of sexual assault, with drivers being accused in 68% of assaults. Additionally, 89% of the sexual assault victims were women. Another safety concern when using a rideshare app is the risk of physical assault incidents. Although the total number of physical assaults is unreported, Uber reported that from 2021 to 2022, there were 36 fatal physical assault incidents involving Uber drivers or riders.
In addition to physical and sexual assault concerns, rideshare users are also concerned with the drivers themselves. When riders enter the vehicle, they have no way of knowing if their driver is a safe or reckless driver. If their driver is reckless, they have no way of leaving the vehicle unless the driver is willing to stop and end the ride, which may leave the rider feeling unsafe in the vehicle. Furthermore, another concern is whether the driver is intoxicated. Riders may enter a rideshare vehicle with an intoxicated driver and not know until the drive has begun. Both reckless driving and intoxicated driving by rideshare drivers leave passengers in an unsafe environment and at risk of being in a car accident. Talk to an uber accident lawyer if you are injured due to a reckless rideshare driver’s actions.
Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit Concerns
The new women’s preference feature is likely, at least in part, a response to several thousand individuals coming forward with allegations of sexual assault that occurred while using the platform’s services as both passengers and drivers. In October 2023, with the high volume of cases, it was decided that the cases would be consolidated into a multi-district litigation, or MDL, for pre-trial proceedings. The lawsuit, Uber Technologies, Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation (MDL No. 3084), mainly involves passengers who experienced sexual assault, harassment, or other harm by Uber drivers. The victims allege that Uber was negligent by failing to implement appropriate safety measures to protect passengers, making them liable for their driver’s actions. Additionally, the plaintiffs allege that Uber failed to adequately screen drivers, failed to respond to complaints and reports of assault, misrepresented the safety of the platform, and prioritized profit over passenger safety.
While the app itself cannot prevent these types of actions from occurring entirely, it may, at least, give some female riders more comfort in knowing that they have options. Additionally, they can still decline a ride if they do not feel that the driver paired with them looks safe to ride with.