Uber has announced the nationwide rollout of its 'Women Preferences' feature in the United States, giving women riders and drivers more control over who they travel with. The company shared the update in a news release on Monday, March 9, a day after International Women’s Day.

With this feature, women riders can choose to request rides from women drivers through the Uber app. Women drivers can also turn on a setting that allows them to prioritise ride requests from women passengers.

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According to Uber, the feature was introduced after many women asked for more options that would help them feel safer and more comfortable while using ride-hailing services.

How the feature works

Women riders can select the option while booking an on-demand ride. If a woman driver is not available nearby and the wait time becomes longer, riders can switch to another ride option with a faster pickup.

The app also allows users to reserve trips in advance with a woman driver. Riders can also update their account settings to increase the chances of being matched with a woman driver, although the match is not guaranteed.

Women drivers can activate the same preference in their driver app. Once the feature is turned on, they will receive more ride requests from women riders.

Uber said the feature was developed after listening to feedback from users. “Since our first pilots last summer, we've heard just how much that choice matters, from feeling more comfortable in the back seat to more confident behind the wheel,” the company said.

The idea for Women's Preferences first started in 2019 after women in Saudi Arabia gained the right to drive. Uber piloted the feature there, and it later expanded to other parts of the world.

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The rollout also comes at a time when ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft have faced criticism over how they handle complaints related to harassment and sexual assault. Lyft launched a similar feature in 2023 that allows women and nonbinary riders and drivers to be matched.

Uber has also introduced other safety features in recent years, including rider PIN verification and special accounts for teenage riders.

Currently, the Women's Preferences feature is available for drivers in more than 40 countries and for riders in seven countries. Uber said it tested and improved the system in countries such as Germany and France to ensure it works reliably, especially since most drivers on the platform are men.