Is Uber safe? Addressing safety concerns of passengers and drivers.
It’s easy to worry about your safety while using a rideshare app, especially if it’s late at night and you’re a lone passenger. If you're worried about personal or vehicular safety, you’re definitely not alone.
Uber made news in July 2022 after being sued for 550 sexual assault and attack claims, leaving many wondering how safe using the app for transportation actually is.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Uber said it takes “every single report seriously."
“There is nothing more important than safety, which is why Uber has built new safety features, established survivor-centric policies, and been more transparent about serious incidents,” the statement said. “While we can’t comment on pending litigation, we will continue to keep safety at the heart of our work.”
Is Uber safe?
Uber’s 2019-2020 Safety Report states that 99.9% of all Uber rides are completed without incident. The 78-page report stated Uber dealt with 3,824 incidents of severe sexual assault and misconduct in the U.S., including that 20 people were killed in assaults.
The company reported 141 incidents of rape and 998 incidents of sexual assault in 2020, according to NBC News.
Additionally, the report states about one in 90 million trips resulted in passengers dying in fatal car crashes. With a rate of 0.62 Uber-related motor vehicle fatalities per 100 million Uber-related vehicle miles traveled, Uber had about one-half the death rate of the entire U.S., which was 1.22 motor vehicle fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, according to the report. This means using Uber to get from point A to point B could be relatively safer than driving yourself, with regard to motor vehicle deaths.
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Is Uber safe for women?
While people of all genders can be victims of sexual assault, women have reason to be particularly worried about attacks. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network reports that 90 percent of adult rape victims are female, as well as 82 percent of juvenile rape victims.
According to an Alarms.org women’s safety report in 2020, Uber and Lyft are safer for women than taxis, professional car services and public transportation. Still, that doesn’t mean rideshare transportation always happens without incident.
Even though Uber requires background checks and vets its drivers each year, plenty of people feel unsafe in an Uber. The Alarms.org report states 23% of women surveyed say they reported uncomfortable driver behavior to Uber. Lyft came in slightly lower, with 15% of women surveyed saying they had reported a driver’s behavior to Lyft.
More: Uber details nearly 4,000 incidents of sexual assault, misconduct in latest safety report
Is Uber safe for drivers?
Uber’s 2019-2020 Safety Report actually shows fewer driver fatalities in motor vehicle accidents than passenger deaths, with one driver fatality reported for every 140 million trips.
According to the report, riders were the accused party in 43% of the company’s sexual assault claims, so drivers, like passengers, should also follow safety best practices.
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How to be safe in an Uber
According to the Uber Car Accident Law practice of attorneys Neufeld, Kleinberg and Pinkiert, you can follow these 14 tips to be safe as an Uber passenger:
Wear a seatbelt.
Do not distract the driver.
Watch for traffic before opening the door.
Request your ride while indoors.
Use Uber’s trip-sharing features.
Don’t share your personal information with your Uber driver.
Confirm the driver’s identity before you get in the car.
If alone, sit in the passenger rear seat.
Make sure the driver is in the same make, model and color vehicle displayed in the app, with a license plate that matches.
Prompt the driver to confirm your name and destination before you reveal this information.
Follow Uber’s rules and local laws.
Inform your driver that you are tracking your trip.
Use additional personal safety apps on your phone or smart device.
Ride with a friend when possible.
For drivers worried about safety, The Rideshare Guy blog says Uber and Lyft drivers can install a two-way dashboard camera and a privacy partition, as well as lock their doors, take self-defense classes and trust their gut by canceling rides or delivery requests that seem unsafe.
How to be safe from the coronavirus in an Uber
The COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot about the rideshare industry. As of April 2022, Uber no longer requires masks for riders and drivers, but you can follow these practices to enhance your safety, according to Good Housekeeping:
Wear a mask, and request that your driver does as well.
Roll down the car windows.
Don't sit in the front seat, and sit behind a partition if your driver's car has one.
Tip in the app, and don't try to give your driver cash.
Bring hand sanitizer with you, and don't touch your face until you've exited the vehicle and cleaned your hands.
Just curious?: We're here to help with life's everyday questions
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Uber safe? Addressing passenger and driver safety.
