Uber Safety Initiative: What Happens When Only 1 in 5 Drivers Are Women?

Close-up of a person opening a car door, representing rideshare use and passenger safety concerns

Last year, when we reported on the proposed safety changes Uber wanted to make, one of them included pairing up female passengers with female drivers. That idea sounds very promising on paper. In theory, it could help female passengers feel more comfortable, especially during late-night pickups when reports of sexual assault involving male drivers raised significant concern.

However, there’s one problem.

According to Uber, only about ⅕ of its active monthly drivers are women.

For context, Uber has around 9.7 million active drivers and couriers per month worldwide. And based on these statistics, a little less than 2 million of them are women. Even with the best intentions, the new safety feature is still not enough to meet passenger demand, making it very likely that female passengers will still be paired with male drivers, even when they would prefer not to be.

Our firm has seen the kind of egregious conduct that occurs in Ubers firsthand. While this initiative has promise, it also comes too little too late for those passengers who were taken advantage of when all they wanted to do was simply get home.

If you or someone you love was sexually assaulted in an Uber, you don’t have to face this next step alone. Our team is here to give you your voice back. Call 732-333-8141 for a free, confidential consultation.

Uber Introduces Women Preferences: A New Safety Feature Aimed at Female Riders

On Monday, March 9, 2026, Uber officially rolled out Uber’s Women Preferences, a program that allows female passengers to request rides with female drivers. The woman-matching program, while originally piloted in the United States last year, has already been implemented for drivers in over 40 countries, and seven countries for riders, including Brazil, Spain, and Saudi Arabia.

As we stated above, the program sounds good on paper. It was launched as a direct response to both female drivers and passengers wanting “more control over how they ride and earn.” To request a ride, passengers have the option to reserve a trip with a woman in advance or update their preferences so they have a greater likelihood of matching with a female driver.

Uber Passenger Safety Concerns: Why Women Requested More Control Over Their Rides

The demand by women for more control over their rides and drivers didn’t just come out of nowhere. It stems from years of underreported incidents of sexual assault and misconduct committed by drivers. In court documents that were unsealed last year, Uber received over 400,000 reports of sexual assault and sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2022. However, they only disclosed approximately 12,000 of these incidents to the public, ultimately creating a greater illusion of safety that didn’t exist.

The documents were unsealed as a result of a massive lawsuit filed against Uber in which more than 2,300 survivors claim that the rideshare platform was negligent by failing to screen their drivers and ignored warning signs that put innocent passengers in danger. For example, Uber’s data scientists were aware of the sexual misconduct report the company received and made recommendations to pair female passengers with same-sex drivers, as well as mandatory video recording.

But was the company’s response to these suggestions immediate? No.

Even when internal research revealed that Uber was aware of clear patterns between male drivers with poor ratings, late night and weekend pickups near bars, and sexual misconduct, Uber responded by claiming that they have been “more transparent on the issue of sexual assault than any other corporation.”

As noted above, Uber received over 400,000 reports of sexual misconduct in a five year span and didn’t reveal more than 12,000 until they legally had to. That’s about 388,000 that went undisclosed to the public, signifying Uber’s priority of profits over passenger safety.

Uber’s Female Driver Matching Feature: Why Legal Challenges From Drivers Are Emerging

The rollout of this new system is already facing pushback, not necessarily from Uber, but from the drivers. As of publication, two drivers from California have already accused the company of violating the Unruh Civil Rights Act by potentially giving female drivers access to a larger pool of passengers. The Unruh Civil Rights Act prohibits businesses from discriminating on the basis of sex.

Uber has already filed a motion to stop the litigation and move to arbitration, a move they have repeatedly done in the past.

How Uber’s Driver Classification Has Helped the Company Avoid Liability: Why Does Uber Call Drivers Independent Contractors?

For years, whether it’s sexual assault, sexual misconduct, or injuries sustained in an Uber accident, Uber has done what they can to shield themselves from liability. By classifying their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, they are able to skirt liability by claiming that they are not responsible for a driver’s actions.

But things are changing.

In February 2026, Uber was found liable in a sexual assault lawsuit as a result of apparent agency, which is a legal theory that occurs when a business creates a reasonable impression that someone represents it. For example, working as an “Uber driver.”

For those who are filing claims, apparent agency signifies a turning point in Uber litigation.

Uber Safety Changes Raise Questions: Where Do We Go From Here?

The official implementation of Uber’s Women Preferences is a step forward in recognizing the serious concerns that drivers and passengers alike have had over the years when it comes to safety. However, with not enough female drivers to meet the demand, the program does more in theory than it does in real life.

While apparent agency is helping to challenge Uber’s long-standing argument that they are not responsible for the actions of the drivers operating on their platform, the fight for accountability is far from over. If you or someone you love experienced sexual assault or misconduct while riding in an Uber, don’t wait. Call Drazin and Warshaw today at 732-333-8141 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. With offices in Red Bank, Hazlet, Westfield, and Brick, our team is here to serve you and get you the help you need when you need it most.

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.