Uber Adding New Safety Features To App To Better Protect Women

CHARLOTTE, N.C — Uber is now taking action  to help women feel safer using their app. 

  The company is  automating safety features that include encrypted audio recordings, pin verification, live location sharing and a fourth feature ride check — which  detects if a ride ends early, stops unexpectedly, or goes off course.

“Its  one of those things especially if you’re riding alone that its scary to get in a car with someone  you don’t know,” Sydney Anderson said. 

Uber has faced numerous lawsuits from victims alleging the company has failed to conduct proper background checks or deliver adequate safety training.

“I do know people however who have not had good experiences and have felt unsafe and have even asked them to stop the car and get out and finish walking the rest of the way. So I do think it’s beneficial as a community as a whole to have that safety feature for us,” Anderson said. 

Some women like Kayla Hawkins hope the added protections will help women make it home safely. 

“So I think that’s a great idea. You really never know what someone’s actual intentions are. You’re expecting to get picked up and head to your location and when that doesn’t happen then we have all of these tragedies out here,” Hawkins said. 

A women only rideshare company in Charlotte has seen extraordinary growth, the founder says because many women don’t feel safe using other apps. 

“It’s given them the option to feel safe in their rideshare and it is a mode of transportation for majority women,” Kimberly Evans said. 

Kimberly Evans, Founder and CEO of Just Her Rideshare said with many women concerned about rideshare safety issues her company has been growing quickly to meet the needs of women. 

“While you may be used to getting another ride share in five minutes or so its going to take us a little longer, but the way we get around that is pre schedule and that way you know your driver will be there exactly when you want them to,” Evans said.