Uber and Lyft Sexual Violence Statistics

Over the last ten years, we have seen the rise of the rideshare market with Uber and Lyft being the top two largest ridesharing companies in the United States.

Ridesharing made the concept of hailing a cab easier, faster, and more affordable for people around the world, including in more rural areas where cabs and other forms of transportation are more limited.

Ultimately, the ridesharing industry relies on strangers feeling comfortable enough to get in another stranger’s car and a stranger feeling comfortable enough to pick up strangers and drive them around.

There are many inherent risks in that equation — from a history of bad driving to violent criminal pasts and everything in between.

When it comes to being a rideshare user or passenger, being in another person’s vehicle can make passengers somewhat of a captive, because they are stuck in a moving vehicle with someone.

Although these companies tout themselves as an easy, reliable, and safe form of transit, thousands of incidents of harm from sexual assault to murder have happened over the years in rideshares.

When stories about violence or sexual assault against a driver or passenger are made public, it makes passengers uneasy and forces ridesharing apps to invest further in trust and safety. It’s unfortunate that it takes harm happening to get these companies to do something, which is why it is important to provide individuals with statistics and data about ridesharing safety so they can make informed decisions.

Each company proclaims strict hiring guidelines for all its drivers, who are legally designated as independent contractors including background checks and DMV driving checks. The apps themselves have features that allow passengers or drivers to contact emergency services discretely if they feel in danger.

However, thousands of incidents of harm are still happening and it’s essential to shed light on the facts about Uber, Lyft, and sexual violence