Uber markets itself as one of the safest transportation options available, with public pledges like “Safety is a core value at Uber” and campaigns stating that 99.9% of U.S. trips occur without incident. For many in Louisiana, Uber offers a convenient alternative to driving after a night out, finding parking in the French Quarter, or traveling alone.
But recently unsealed court records paint a much darker picture of Uber’s safety reports, revealing that the reality for some riders has been far from safe.
Sexual Assault Reports Far Exceed Public Disclosures
If Americans needed another reason to doubt Uber’s public claims that it is one of the safest ridesharing services, we got it recently with a bombshell report on sexual assaults.
According to documents reviewed by The New York Times, Uber received a report of sexual assault or sexual misconduct in the United States almost every eight minutes between 2017 and 2022. That amounts to 400,181 reports over five years — a staggering number that dwarfs the 12,522 serious sexual assaults the company publicly disclosed in its Uber safety reports for the same period.
Uber has not released a public safety report since 2022, but court filings suggest that incident reports have increased, not decreased.
Uber Mishandles the Sexual Assault Problem
Internal Uber teams analyzed sexual assault patterns for years, identifying that most incidents occurred late at night or on weekends, often with pickups near bars. Women were most frequently the victims, and offenders — usually men — often had prior complaints and low ratings.
The company tested safety measures like:
- Female-to-female driver-passenger pairings, which reduced incidents but were delayed in the U.S. due to potential “legal and cultural backlash.”
- Sophisticated matching algorithms to avoid high-risk matches.
- Mandatory in-car video or audio recording to deter misconduct.
Despite these tools, Uber did not require widespread adoption, citing costs, logistics, and potential pushback. Uber’s classification of drivers as independent contractors reduces company liability and expenses, but also limits the ability to mandate safety protocols and training.
Even when presented with multiple complaints concerning specific drivers, Uber did not warn riders and let some of the offending drivers continue driving for the company.
One internal 2021 Uber safety report stated bluntly: “Our purpose/goal is not to be the police… our goal is to protect the company and set the tolerable risk level for our operations.”
While Uber did make a high-profile decision to end forced arbitration in sexual misconduct cases in 2018, allowing survivors to bring cases to public court, thousands of these lawsuits have since been filed. The litigation process has revealed just how much Uber knew about the scope of the problem — and how slow it was to fully address it.
Tips to Stay Safer When Using Rideshare Services
While riders should never bear the burden of preventing sexual misconduct, taking certain steps can help reduce risk:
- Request your ride from a safe indoor location.
- Verify the driver and car before entering — check license plate, make/model, and driver photo in the app.
- Share your trip details with a friend or family member in real time.
- Sit in the back seat and keep personal belongings close.
- Trust your instincts — if something feels off, end the trip early or call 911 using the app’s emergency feature.
The Bottom Line
Uber’s own internal data tells a story that differs sharply from its marketing. While the company promotes itself as a safe and reliable service, the gap between what’s promised and what’s practiced can be dangerous. Survivors of sexual assault and harassment deserve transparency, swift action, and justice — not minimized reports and delayed protections.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or harassment during a rideshare trip and wish to discuss the specifics of your case in a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer, please contact us today.