For all its popularity around the globe, the world’s leading ride-hailing service Uber still has its fair share of opponents, for a wide range of reasons, with many of them being a direct result of countless incidents involving passengers being attacked by Uber drivers.
Passenger safety has been a huge issue for Uber ever since it launched back in 2009, with numerous assaults and incidents constantly marring the reputation of what is now one of the world’s most valuable companies. In particular, female passengers have been at a very high risk of getting attacked by an Uber driver in many countries around the globe. Now, there is a new company that wants to address this issue and allow female passengers to use ride-hailing services without fearing for their safety.
Female Drivers and Female Riders Only
Michael Pelletz, a former Uber driver, has decided to found a ride-hailing service that will only accept female users, who will be transported by female drivers only. The Boston resident decided to launch this service after he took a passenger who appeared to be under heavy influence of drugs, acting and talking incoherently, which made Pelletz fear for his life and forced him to pull over and surrender the passenger to a police officer he saw along the way.
Wanting to create a safe alternative to Uber for women, Pelletz founded Chariot for Women, which will launch in Boston this month, followed by a nationwide launch soon thereafter. As stated on the company website, Chariot for Women will only hire female drivers, and only pick up female passengers and children under the age of 13, including boys.
“Chariot was born to ensure safety, comfort and pleasure as well as giving back to female focused charities and foundations through our transportation services. A certain percentage of the riders fare will be donated to selected rotating non-profits,” reads a company statement.
Thorough Background Checks and Safe Words
Although Chariot for Women claims that its model that excludes male drivers and male passengers will ensure the safety of its customers, it will still take some precautionary measures that are taken by Uber and other ride-hailing services.
The Massachusetts-based startup will conduct background checks for all prospective drivers in an effort to prevent incidents, and will allow users to see a picture of the driver and the license plate number of the car before ordering a ride.
What’s more, users will receive a “safe word” that the driver picking them up should also know, to assure them that the driver has been approved to pick up fares.
While the idea behind Chariot for Women is surely noble, there is the question of whether it might be discriminating by not allowing men to apply for a job with it or getting a ride. Various civil rights groups have already expressed their concerns over potential discrimination, and it remains to be seen if Chariot for Women will face legal issues because of its model that is essentially aimed at ensuring the safety of women.