Uber is rolling out a new feature across the United States that allows women riders and drivers to request trips with other women, a move the company says is designed to improve safety and comfort on its ride-hailing platform.
According to a report by the Associated Press, the new option—called “Women Drivers”—will allow female passengers to request a woman driver directly through the Uber app. Women who drive for Uber can also choose to prioritize ride requests from female passengers, giving them greater control over the types of trips they accept.
The feature expands on a pilot program Uber tested in several U.S. cities last year, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Detroit. After expanding to dozens of cities, the company announced the feature would now be available nationwide.
The system works in several ways. Women riders can select the Women Drivers option when requesting a trip. If a female driver is not available immediately, the rider can choose to wait longer, request a different ride, or schedule a trip with a woman driver in advance. Female users can also adjust their app settings to increase the likelihood that they will be matched with a woman driver.
Meanwhile, women who drive for Uber can set their preferences to prioritize female passengers. That setting can be turned on or off at any time.
Uber says the feature responds to a long-standing request from both female riders and drivers who say they feel more comfortable being paired with other women. The company estimates that about 20% of its drivers in the United States are women, although the number varies by location.
However, the policy has also sparked legal controversy.
As reported by the Associated Press, two Uber drivers in California filed a class-action lawsuit arguing the feature discriminates against male drivers. The lawsuit claims the program gives female drivers access to a larger pool of passengers while leaving male drivers to compete for fewer rides.
The complaint also argues the policy reinforces stereotypes suggesting men are more dangerous than women.
Uber disputes that claim. In court filings, the company argued that the feature serves a legitimate public safety goal and reflects repeated requests from users who want more control over who they share rides with.
The debate comes as ride-hailing companies continue to face scrutiny over safety concerns.
Uber and its main competitor Lyft have both dealt with criticism and lawsuits related to passenger safety over the years. Thousands of sexual assault incidents have been reported on ride-sharing platforms, although the companies say the number represents a tiny fraction of overall trips.
Uber says reports of sexual assault have declined significantly in recent years, dropping from nearly 6,000 reported incidents between 2017 and 2018 to about 2,700 between 2021 and 2022.
The company has introduced several safety features over time, including trip monitoring tools, emergency assistance options and a shared database with Lyft that tracks drivers removed from platforms for serious misconduct.
With the nationwide launch of the women-only matching option, Uber says it hopes to give riders and drivers another tool to feel safer while using the service.
