Uber's 2024 India Economic Impact Report, compiled by Public First, reveals that 95% of female riders prioritise safety when choosing Uber. Uber has introduced new safety features in India focused on protecting female riders and drivers. These features include audio recording, women rider preference, and an expanded partnership with the NGO Durga for driver sensitisation training. Uber also launched 'Safety Preferences', enabling riders to automatically activate features like RideCheck, Share My Trip, and Audio Recording for every trip. These initiatives aim to address safety concerns and build trust in the platform, especially among female users who cite safety as a primary reason for using Uber.
Uber's 2024 India Economic Impact Report
Uber's 2024 India Economic Impact Report, compiled by Public First, reveals that 95% of female riders prioritise safety when choosing Uber. Furthermore, 84% of female riders consider Uber the safest way to travel home. These statistics underscore the importance of Uber's continued focus on safety enhancements.
“We believe that our work on safety never stops. We’ve continually innovated to lead the industry on safety and enhance the overall experience on every Uber trip. Whether it’s through tech-driven solutions like SOS integration and Women Rider Preference, or through initiatives such as gender sensitisation, we remain focussed on building a platform that riders and drivers can trust every time they choose Uber," stated Sooraj Nair, Head - Safety Operations, Uber India & South Asia.
Features
One key feature is the SOS integration, designed to provide rapid emergency assistance. Riders and drivers can directly share live location and trip details with police during emergencies. This feature is currently operational in Telangana. Testing has concluded in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, with rollout pending police approval in these states.
Women Rider Preference is an industry-first feature that empowers female drivers to accept rides only from female passengers. This option is particularly beneficial during late hours. According to Uber, this feature has already facilitated over 21,000 trips, allowing female drivers to prioritise their safety, extend their driving hours, and increase earnings.
Audio Recording, another industry-first feature, allows riders to record audio during trips if they feel uneasy. These recordings are encrypted and inaccessible to the rider, ensuring privacy. Uber only accesses the audio if the rider submits it as part of a safety report. This feature complies with India’s one-party consent law and is available nationwide.
Safety Preferences is a new feature that allows riders to customise and automatically activate safety features on every trip. Riders can choose which features to enable, such as sharing trip details with trusted contacts, activating audio recording, and enabling RideCheck alerts. These preferences can be tailored based on time or location, like late-night trips or rides from specific areas. This feature offers a centralized location within the app for personalized safety settings.
Uber with NGO Durga
Uber's partnership with Bengaluru-based NGO Durga aims to enhance driver sensitisation. Through virtual sessions, drivers will learn about the specific safety concerns of women riders, promoting a safer and more respectful environment.
Uber has also strengthened existing safety measures. RideCheck utilises technology to identify irregularities like route deviations or prolonged stops, triggering a proactive check-in with both the rider and driver. The 24/7 Safety Line offers continuous access to safety experts for urgent non-emergency situations during and after trips. Phone and address anonymisation protects rider and driver privacy by concealing personal contact information and trip locations.
These new features and initiatives build upon Uber's existing safety features. Uber's commitment to safety is demonstrated through technological advancements and collaborations with experts. The focus on female riders and drivers specifically addresses their unique safety needs and contributes to a more secure ride-sharing experience. The combination of technology, training, and user customisation options reflects Uber's ongoing effort to improve safety and build trust among its users in India.
