Uber has unveiled a suite of safety enhancements aimed at creating a more secure and comfortable experience for its riders in India, with a special focus on female riders and drivers.

We’ve introduced Audio Recording and Women Rider Preference to offer increased safety on Uber trips. Partnering with Bengaluru-based NGO Durga, we are also stepping up efforts to sensitise drivers on appropriate conduct, especially with regard to women riders. With the launch of ‘Safety Preferences,’ Uber riders can now personalise safety features like RideCheck, Share My Trip, and Audio Recording to activate automatically on every Uber trip.

We continue to utilise a mix of technological expertise and innovations to ensure that riding with Uber is safe, seamless, and hassle-free. As per the 2024 India Economic Impact Report, compiled by Public First, 95% of female riders cite safety as their top reason for using Uber, while 84% believe that taking an Uber is the safest way to get home.

Making every Uber trip safer:

  • Audio Recording | Industry-first: Riders and drivers can now record audio during trips if they feel unsafe. These encrypted recordings are stored securely and can only be accessed if submitted for a safety report, offering peace of mind without compromising privacy.
  • Women Rider Preference | Industry-first: Female drivers can now match exclusively with female riders, especially helpful during late hours, creating a safer, more comfortable experience. This feature, based on driver feedback, has already enabled over 21,000 trips, empowering women earners while ensuring peace of mind for riders.
  • Gender sensitisation for drivers: Uber has partnered with Durga, a Bangalore-based NGO dedicated to promoting gender equity and safety. This partnership will include virtual sessions for drivers to understand and address the unique safety concerns of women riders, fostering a safer and more respectful experience for all.
  • SOS Integration: Our SOS Integration allows riders and drivers to share their live location and trip details with law enforcement authorities during emergencies. The feature is live in Telangana. We have completed testing in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and are set to roll out as the State police green-lights the collaboration.
  • Safety Preferences: Riders can now ‘set it and forget it’—they can tailor safety settings, such as activating features like RideCheck, Share My Trip, and Audio Recording, automatically for specific times or locations—such as late-night trips—offering a more personalised and secure experience.

Complementing these new features, Uber continues to bolster its platform with existing safety measures, including RideCheck, which detects irregularities like long stops or route deviations; the 24×7 Safety Line for urgent, non-emergency support; and phone number and address anonymisation to protect user privacy.

These enhancements reaffirm Uber’s commitment to redefining safety standards in mobility, creating a platform that riders and drivers can trust every time they choose Uber.