Agency requires companies to train drivers to avoid sexual harassment, assault, among other measures
After thousands of reported sexual assaults over the past decade, California is finally forcing Uber and Lyft to implement safety precautions.
The California Public Utilities Commission – the first agency in the United States to legalize ride-hailing – is requiring that all firms train drivers to avoid sexual assault and harassment, adopt procedures for investigating complaints and use uniform terminology in their annual reports to the agency, The San Francisco Public Press reported.
Uber and Lyft, both headquartered in San Francisco, represent virtually all of California’s ride-hailing business. Both companies have been sued by passengers over the years, alleging they’ve failed to prevent and investigate assaults. Just last week, eight women and two men sued Uber in San Francisco Superior Court, alleging they were attacked by Uber drivers within the last three years. Traditionally, both companies deny the accusations, arguing that less than 1% of their rides have any safety issue.
However, the companies have each released their own studies using definitions they developed with experts. Published in 2021, Lyft’s “Community Safety Report” counted 4,158 alleged sexual assaults nationally in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Last month, Uber published its second “U.S. Safety Report,” listing 3,824 alleged sexual assaults nationally in 2019 and 2020.
Both companies told The San Francisco...
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