Uber / Lyft Ride Share Abuse
Rideshare Services & the Growing Concerns of Passenger Safety
Rideshare services, such as those offered by Uber Technologies, Inc. (Uber) and Lyft, Inc. (Lyft), initially transformed the transportation experience for both passengers and drivers. However, it has become evident that passengers—especially those traveling alone—can be at risk of sexual harassment and abuse by their drivers.
Uber is currently facing thousands of reports of sexual assault during rides in the United States. While Lyft has fewer complaints, it too is seeing an increase in reports of sexual abuse by its drivers. In response, Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies have implemented stricter safety measures to prevent harm to passengers. For example, since 2018, Uber has deactivated around 40,000 drivers due to failed safety checks or driver-specific complaints.
Most Commonly Reported Forms
Sexual abuse in rideshare situations can take many forms, including requests for sexual favors, verbal sexual harassment (such as obscene jokes), unwanted touching or physical contact, inappropriate discussions of sexual topics, indecent exposure, providing pornographic materials, and forced sexual acts.
