Staying Safe During Your Uber Ride: What Every Woman Should Know
As for every drive you take/experience, safety is also the top priority during your Uber drive. And this doesn’t refer to the Uber driver’s driving skills (necessarily).
For example, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has stated (in a 2023 report) that Uber, Lyft, taxi, and similar services, reported ~4600 sexual assaults in 2019). While these types of statistic place a grim smudge on such services, the reality is that the chances of this happening to YOU, are slim to none. In fact, An Uber report has shown that sexual assault incidents represented a mere 0.0002% of the total rides (of a total of ~1.3 billion annual rides in the U.S.). For taxis, this percentage number is even lower.
Whether you're driving often using Uber (or Uber-like services) or planning to start now, below you’ll find really some practical tips every woman should know about the safety of the Uber ride (from the moment you request a vehicle until you reach your destination and exit the vehicle safely).
Let’s get into it!
Women’s 5 Useful Tips for Uber Ride Safety
Everyone who uses Uber wants an amazing experience. This means, not having any fear or negative thoughts revolving around your own safety.
Well, luckily, there ARE some precautionary steps that every woman can and should do before stepping into that vehicle (no offense to the drivers – safety comes first!), and some very handy tips that’ll keep you alert during the actual ride.
Double-check Your Ride Detail
Before you enter the car, check the plates, and check the car brand/model/color. Also, check the driver. Basically, what you’re trying to do is to ensure all the details from your ride request match the driver’s.
This swift, yet effective step prevents you from getting into the wrong Uber vehicle.
Also, check the driver's photo (the driver might have a cap/hat/hood, or a different hairstyle, or even a beard/no beard situation; so make sure to check that) and name. Once the driver’s car, as well as the driver are verified, you’re happy to jump in. This helps with ensuring you’re both the two parties that’ve arranged the Uber ride. Doing this step will also help you (AND the driver) avoid any possible fraud – so it’s not just to your benefit).
Share Your Location with Family and Friends
During the Uber ride, you can easily share your location with people you trust the most (family, your BFF, girlfriends, your partner, etc.). This way, they can keep track of your whole ride (entry point, the whole route, and the exit point). While some may say that this might be a bit too much, or even paranoid – that’s fine. People are entitled to their own opinions. This step is a quick push of a button, that’ll go a LONG WAY, just in case anything happens.
Such details might even help if a car accident happens, and you later need proof in court.
Also, with this feature, you can provide your friends or family with your ride details, such as estimated arrival time, trip status, and location, in real time (this is also useful for organization/logistical purposes).
It doesn’t hurt to do this, so be sure to make this a habit.
Always Know Where You Are During the Ride
Many passengers don’t pay attention to where they are during the ride. This usually happens once you focus on your phone or even doze off into your thoughts, instead of looking where you are. And it’s quite a common mistake.
Keep in mind that knowing your surroundings during the ride is very important for your safety. You can look at the driver's navigation to make sure he is still on route.
Also, never hesitate (or be embarrassed) to ask the driver where you currently are, or why he/she took a sudden detour, or even ask the driver to stop if you feel that something is not right. The driver should be (and very likely is) a professional, and these sorts of questions/requests shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Familiarize Yourself with Emergency Resources
Make sure you have an emergency contact on your speed dial (family, close friend, partner, etc.). And memorize the emergency services number (911) just in case. It’s easy to remember, and it’s important to know it if the situation calls for it.
If you have any problem during the ride, discomfort, or worse, some accident or you feel unsafe – knowing who to call can be crucial.
Utilize Uber’s Safety Features
As already said, Uber has some very good features in the app for your safety. Don’t hesitate to use them.
The emergency button is foreseen in case you don’t feel safe, and “Share My Trip” and “Check Your Ride” are also great options for a safer riding experience.
It might be redundant to say it again, but it IS important.
5-Steps Guide: What To Do in Case of an Accident/Incident
Regardless of how much you’re prepared, incidents and accidents still happen. What’s important is to know how to react and what to do then.
Ensure you take all of the appropriate steps to protect your rights.
Prioritize Immediate Safety
Safety first. If you are involved in an accident, the first and most important thing is to check yourself for injuries and then all the other participants in the accident. If anyone is injured, call emergency services immediately.
After you have called emergency services, move to a safe location away from traffic.
Report the Accident to Authorities and Uber
Make sure to call the police to report the accident regardless of whether it seems minor or major. A police report can be crucial for potential insurance claims.
Uber should also be notified by using options in their application. First, go to the option “Help,” then select “Trip Issues and Refunds,” and then “Report a Serious Incident”.
Document the Scene
Take all the important information from participants and witnesses, such as contact information, name, and insurance details.
Take photos and videos of the accident scene, making sure to capture all vehicle damages and any visible injuries on you and others.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you think that you are not injured or that you only feel bruised from impact, seek medical evaluation. Some injuries can be tricky and become a serious medical problem later.
Call an Uber Accident Lawyer
To understand your rights and potentially pursue compensation, the best option is to consult with a professional Uber accident lawyer.
They will help you with rideshare insurance policies and determine the best course of action.
An Uber accident lawyer can assist you with:
Insurance Claims
Legal Representation
Maximizing Compensation.
Statistics on Uber Safety
Uber's recent safety report highlighted that over 99.9% of rides in the U.S. occur without any reported safety issues. However, the report also noted that from 2019 to 2020, there were ~3,824 reports of sexual assault, and 20 people were killed in assaults during Uber rides. This reflects a significant area of concern for passenger safety.
According to Bloomberg, Uber holds a dominant 76% share of the U.S. rideshare market, significantly higher than its competitor Lyft. Despite high market usage, per-customer spending on Uber rides increased by 17% from 2022 to 2024, indicating sustained demand and reliance on rideshare services despite safety concerns. Source:
Uber has also reported that around 58% of fatal accidents in 2020 involved at least one other vehicle, which underscores the risk of collisions even when passengers follow safety protocols.
Conclusion
Thinking about your safety is nothing alarming. It’s something that everyone should do, at least to some degree (especially women). Uber rides are no exception. And, OF COURSE, this doesn’t mean that every Uber rider is a potential creep, or something even more vile – but, then again, it kinda does mean just that. The simple truth is – you never know. And victims likely didn’t think that something bad would happen TO THEM. But it did. And it still does.
The tips above are there to help you filter between using Uber-like services and potential harm. In other words, those filters are designed to minimize the risk of damage.
If you unfortunately get involved in an accident (of any kind), ensure you know what you should do, firstly for your safety, then to demand your rights.