Uber, the giant ride-hailing app, which recently released a report detailing claims by passengers and drivers alike of sexual assault and abuse while using the Uber app, has introduced a new safety feature that will allow riders and drivers to subtly text 911 without calling.

The Uber study released in December 2019 showed that a massive 3,045 instances of sexual assault were reported in U.S. rides in the previous year, as well as hundreds of reports of rape. Even with  employee background checks, nearly 6,000 reports of sexual assault were reported for 2017 and 2018 combined.

Given that sexual assault is heavily underreported in the U.S., it is quite likely that the actual number of instances of sexual assault may have been much higher and simply were not reported. Other statistics included in the report were 19 deaths from physical assaults and 58 fatalities from crashes.

The revelatory Uber report came after a 2018 investigation by CNN found dozens of instances in which Uber drivers had been accused of sexually assaulting or abusing their passengers.

Earlier this month, Uber launched a new safety feature to its app intended to protect passengers and drivers alike. The feature will allow riders and drivers to text 911 instead of calling, allowing them to give information like the location of the ride.

The app pre-populates the text with the make and model of the care, the license plate number, and the car’s location—even if the driver has gone off the course displayed on the Uber app itself. The location information is sent through a system called RapidSOS. RapidSOS is used in dozens of cities all across the country.

This newly implemented technology was first piloted in Los Angeles, Indiana, and Minnesota. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, this new feature has already helped people get out of scary or dangerous positions.

“We’ve had a number of instances where it saved lives where someone was in a compromised position and it was too dangerous to talk,” Todd Austin, LAPD dispatch manager, told ABC News. “They were able to text us that information, we were able to dispatch help and lives were saved.”

After the feature is activated, the app will continue sending real time location data to 911 dispatchers.

“If there is no other thing that we can get from a caller, location is the most important thing you need to dispatch,” Austin told ABC. “People don’t know where they are. They might know a landmark, but generally they don’t know the address where they are and this has helped to take what might have been a two minute process to try to narrow down where they were and we have that instantly.”

Notably, the safety feature is not available everywhere at the moment—just in locations where 911 officials have activated “Text to 911” as an option. These include counties and metro areas in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

So far, Lyft has not introduced a Text-to-911 feature on its app, though it can connect with 911 via a phone call through the app itself. The ride-hailing company added this safety feature after Uber added its similar feature, RideCheck. Lyft is currently piloting a partnership with ADT in 10 markets that allows you to tap and “Alert 911 silently.” At that point, ADT contacts 911 on your behalf to share your location and details about the vehicle you’re in.

Filing a Rideshare Company Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Uber and Lyft over sexual assault.

If you or someone you love has been a victim of sexual assault or abuse while using a rideshare service like Uber in the last two years, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Consulting a rideshare lawyer can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially in the wake of a traumatic event like abuse or assault, so Top Class actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.