Uber has unveiled its second safety report for drivers and passengers in the United States. Validated by third-party experts, the report details matters of sexual assault, physical confrontations, drunk driving, murder and other instances that may appear in a safety report. Overall, more than 99.9% of Uber rides allegedly take place without a safety report being filed at all. However, there are still matters of concern for the company and those who use its app.
As it pertains to sexual assault, Uber’s report found that 3,824 instances of sexual assault were recorded from 2019 through 2020. This is a 38% drop from the previous report that measured data from 2017 through 2018. Further analysis found that riders were the accused party in 43% of sexual assault reports.
Uber segmented acts of sexual assault into five categories within its report, ranging from nonconsensual kissing of a nonsexual body part to non-consensual sexual penetration. While there was a decrease in all categories, 141 instances of rape in 2020.
In addition to reporting cases involving sexual assault, Uber also disclosed information regarding motor vehicle fatalities and impaired driving. The app reports that its motor vehicle fatality rate is still half the national average. Uber also notes that “more than half of the motor vehicle fatalities highlighted in this report include at least one risky behavior, such as impairment or speeding—and 94% were related to third-party drivers.”
“We have used the same clear principle to guide our transparency efforts and publication of this second safety report: secrecy doesn’t make anyone safer. By sharing our safety record, we can help end the silence surrounding issues like gender-based violence that remain far too common in our society, and help improve safety for all,” Uber’s Chief Legal Officer Tony West stated.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without the guidance and support of experts and advocacy groups. We are thankful for the opportunity to listen, to learn, and to partner with people from around the world. They continue to guide our safety journey and help us create many of the policies and processes we have in place today.”
