Roommates, Uber is now facing the daunting reality that the ride sharing app may not be as safe as the company believes. In light of the many horror stories that have come out from female riders, Uber has just revealed some frightening statistics.
According to CBS news, Uber has just released its safety report, which details the company received 3,045 reports of sexual assault during U.S. rides in 2018. The safety report details reported incidents of sexual assault, deaths from physical assault, and fatalities during Uber rides in the last two years..
In 2018 alone, there were reportedly 235 reported incidents of rape during Uber rides. There was also an increase of incidents involving non-consensual touching of a sexual body part, and non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part. Instances of attempted rape, however, decreased from 307 reported in 2017 to 280 in 2018.
This may be alarming to riders, and brings up many concerns of safety issues, Uber clams that drivers reported sexual assaults at about the same rate as riders.
“Confronting sexual violence requires honesty, and it’s only by shining a light on these issues that we can begin to provide clarity on something that touches every corner of society,” said Uber’s chief legal officer Tony West. “And, most importantly, by bringing hard data to bear, we can make every trip safer for drivers and riders alike.”
The company says it is rolling out new safety features, including an option that will allow passengers to verify their drivers with a secure PIN code and the ability to send text messages to 911 operators. West also says the company has tripled the size of its safety team since 2017. There are now reportedly over 300 employees decimates to improving safety for riders.
Uber also said t is working with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Networks, as well as over 200 “gender-based violence prevention experts”, law enforcement and road safety organizations to find new ways to increase the safety level for riders.
