Women in Toronto appear to be sharing an increasing amount of disturbing accounts of inappropriate behaviour by Uber and Lyft drivers online.
One Reddit user reported that over the past month, three of their female friends had encountered “terrifying stories” involving Uber drivers making explicit sexual advances.
These incidents included “lewd remarks about their appearance, sexual comments about specific body parts, and even requests for their phone numbers.”
In one case, a driver allegedly rubbed a woman’s thigh while she was seated in the front passenger seat.
“This is getting ridiculous and Uber doesn’t even have a report section to provide sexual assault or harrasment. Please be vigilant out there,” the post continues.
“I’m sick of the Uber drivers flirting with me and asking where I live. Like enough! I deserve peace and safety,” another woman shared on X.
It seems this issue is not limited to Uber but affects other ride-sharing services like Lyft as well.
“I had an uncomfortable experience where the Lyft driver asked me very sexual questions. I left a one star review and Lyft immediately contacted me asking for the reason,” one Reddit user shared.
Meanwhile, another Reddit user shared that when he takes an Uber, the driver “never talks” to him but “strangely, when my wife takes an Uber, they talk to her and ask personal questions about her marital or relationship status. They also make comments about her looks.”
“I am uncomfortable with my wife taking an Uber on her own. Not because I’m insecure but because of the stories I hear of Uber drivers trying to pick up their clients,” the user added.
While many people have commented on these posts offering different ways for riders to protect themselves, Uber told Now Toronto how the company deals with such cases, and shared a list of safety features readily available for passengers.
“Safety is paramount to the Uber experience. Over the years, we’ve leveraged our technology to build products and features that aim to enhance safety on the platform, and we are constantly piloting new features all over the world. Our commitment to safety innovation never stops, and we will continue to strive to make the platform safer,” an Uber spokesperson told Now Toronto on Monday.
Uber also confirmed several measures designed to protect riders in addition to thoroughly checking driver background, including re-screening drivers annually.
Trip Verification and Sharing
Firstly, riders should ensure they get into the right car by confirming the four-digit PIN before the start of a trip. Furthermore, they can share their live location and trip details which includes details about the car and the driver with their family or friends through the trip sharing feature.
GPS Tracking and RideCheck
Every trip is monitored via GPS, which supports the RideCheck feature, ensuring both drivers and riders are safe in the event of a crash or an unexpectedly long stop, Uber confirmed.
Emergency Button
If you suspect being at risk, passengers can use the Emergency button in the app to call or text 911, providing real-time location and trip details.
Uber has a team of former law enforcement professionals who are on call to work with police 24/7 to respond to urgent needs, according to the company.
Audio Recording
The app also has an audio recording feature that allows riders and drivers to record conversations during a trip.
These recordings are locked and inaccessible to Uber, drivers and riders. Uber can only access the recording if a safety incident is reported and the recording is shared with them by the rider or driver.
Riders can choose to have audio recording enabled for all rides or only for late-night trips, based on their safety preferences.
Uber emphasizes its commitment to safety, stating that it takes safety reports very seriously. Their dedicated safety agents are available year-round to investigate incidents and take appropriate actions.
Both drivers and riders are encouraged to report any incidents or accidents via the app or through Uber’s Safety Incident Reporting line.
