On the 23rd (local time), the global ride-sharing company Uber announced that it will launch a new feature connecting female drivers and female passengers in the U.S.
This service allows female customers to specify their preferences in the app settings so that they are matched with female drivers when reserving a vehicle. Female drivers can also set their preference to pick up only female passengers.
Camiel Irving, vice president of North America operations at Uber, noted in a statement that this is a measure to provide women with more choices and a comfortable ride experience.
However, Uber stated that the preferences of female passengers are not always guaranteed, and added that this feature does not necessarily increase the likelihood of matches between women. It is reported that the proportion of female drivers among Uber drivers is about 20%.
This service will be piloted next month in Los Angeles (LA), San Francisco, and Detroit. Previously, Uber had also conducted pilot operations in France, Germany, and Argentina.
In recent years, Uber has faced safety issues related to sexual violence and harassment, and has introduced various safety features, including youth-only accounts, passenger verification, and PIN confirmation.