Uber introduces Women Drivers feature to improve safety for female passengers in South Africa

Following increasing calls for safer and more inclusive e-hailing services in South Africa, Uber has announced the launch of its new feature, Women Drivers.

This initiative allows female riders to select female drivers when requesting rides through the app, addressing safety concerns that many women face while travelling.

“Safety is top of mind for many women when they travel. With Women Drivers, we’re giving them the power of choice - the option to select a female driver.

"It’s a simple update in the app, but one that delivers a significant boost in confidence, peace of mind, and control over how they move through their cities,” says Deepesh Thomas, general manager of Uber Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Women Drivers feature was tested in various markets, including select cities in the USA and France, where it was adapted based on rider and driver behaviour.

Uber has localised these insights to cater specifically to the needs of South African riders and drivers, where safety perceptions are a critical factor in choosing mobility solutions.

How it works

The Women Drivers service is exclusively available to women riders.

Even when accompanied by female passengers, men are not eligible to use this service.

When a trip is requested, female drivers are notified that the request has come through this feature, enabling them to make informed decisions about the trips they accept.

During peak demand times, such as evenings, this provides female drivers with the flexibility and confidence to accept trips with women riders only.

If a rider opts to travel with a male companion and the driver feels uncomfortable proceeding with the trip, she has the right to decline.

In such cases, the trip will be automatically cancelled, and the rider will not incur any charges.

This feature is integrated with Uber’s existing suite of in-app safety measures, including GPS tracking, Share My Trip, RideCheck, and 24/7 in-app emergency support for both riders and drivers.

In February, the demand for e-hailing services to prioritise women’s safety intensified after radio and TV personality Anele Mdoda filed a complaint against Uber.

Mdoda shared her frightening experience with a male driver during a trip in Cape Town.

She reported that the driver became upset when she chose not to engage in conversation and allegedly threatened her.

Feeling unsafe, she pretended to be live on Instagram to deter the driver and ensure her safe return home.

“My Uber driver tonight was upset that I had picked the ‘don’t talk to me’ option.

He then said, ‘In my country, we would rape you to teach you a lesson,’ and I had to fake being on Instagram Live to get home safe,” she wrote on X.

Her post quickly garnered strong reactions, particularly from women who frequently use e-hailing services.

Many called for stricter safety measures, while others urged Uber to take immediate action.

“Women Drivers is part of how we’re thinking differently about mobility in South Africa,” said Thomas.

“We’re innovating not just with technology, but with solutions that respond to the real needs of our users.”