No one ever said getting into a car with a stranger was risk-free, but Uber's disclosure this month of thousands of sexual assaults of its riders and drivers over a two-year period is raising fresh fears — along with renewed calls for reform in the ride-hailing industry.
Industry stakeholders have been working to improve the safety of ride-hailing services: Lawmakers have been drafting legislation for months; dozens of assault victims have filed lawsuits; municipalities even have stepped in to try to address widespread concerns.
The Uber report, released Dec. 5, examined data from 2.3 billion trips in the U.S. in 2017 and 2018. It revealed 5,981 sexual assaults, 19 killings and 107 traffic fatalities in those two years. The report marked the first time Uber voluntarily released a comprehensive review of safety issues involving its service.