Uber Is So Dangerous That Company Is Now Installing Anti-Rape ‘Panic Button’ For Passengers Who Are Sexually Harassed And Assaulted

Uber is adding additional features — including a panic button — to help stop sexual assault and harassment. The ride-sharing company has been facing accusations of sex crimes from its users directed at its drivers for years.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For decades now, the recurring character of the New York City cab driver has been a comedy staples and oft-used plot device in the movies. In fact, traditional cabbies all across the country are routinely fodder in the acts of stand-up comedians as well. But one thing that has never been associated with the traditional cabbie has been widespread sexual harassment and assault of the people who climb in the back of their cabs. Such is not the case with hipster car service darling Uber, who is now defending themselves against a class-action lawsuit by thousands of women claiming sexual assault. You might want to keep that in mind next time you feel the urge to swipe your next ride home. 

A class-action lawsuit, filed in November 2017, alleges that thousands of women have “endured unlawful conduct by their Uber drivers including rape, sexual assault, physical violence and gender-motivated harassment.”

Since then the company has said it implemented stricter background checks for drivers. The company also added a feature (which was first announced in April) on the Uber app that will allow riders to notify 911, and it’s testing a feature that would send the user’s location to 911 operators.

“We’ve added a feature that allows riders to share live trip information with up to five trusted contacts, so there are multiple sets of eyes on each ride,” Tony West, Chief Legal Officer, wrote in a press release.

“And we’re rolling out a new emergency button in the app that can automatically communicate the car’s location to a 911 center.”

The feature has been tested in India, according to AndroidPolice.com , and is now available in the U.S.

Uber has not replied to a request from Global News on whether the feature will be rolled out in Canada. The feature is part of the company’s drive to improve safety.

“It’s clear that sexual violence remains a huge problem globally. The last 18 months have exposed a silent epidemic of sexual assault and harassment that haunts every industry and every community,” West wrote in the press release, referencing the #MeToo movement.

Along with the panic button, Uber is updating its policies to be “part of the solution” to sexual assault and harassment, what it called a “deeply rooted problem.”

First, the company will no longer require mandatory arbitration for sexual assault claims. Instead, the victim will be allowed to choose how to handle their accusation, in arbitration, mediation, or in criminal court.

Second, Uber is removing its confidentiality provision about sexual harassments and assaults. And third, the company has committed to publishing data on the number of sexual assault and harassment claims it faces. source

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