Ride-sharing just got a little safer for women across the United States. Uber is expanding its “women preferences” feature to Detroit, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, giving female riders the option to be matched with women drivers.

The feature, which has already been implemented in 40 countries worldwide, allows women to set a preference for female drivers directly in the Uber app. When requesting a ride, users will see an “women drivers” option, though they can opt for another ride if the wait time becomes too long.

This rollout comes in response to ongoing safety concerns within ride-sharing platforms. Despite representing a tiny fraction of total trips, incidents of physical assault have been a persistent worry for riders. Uber’s latest safety report revealed 36 physical assault fatalities in 2021 and 2022, prompting the company to introduce multiple safety enhancements.

Interestingly, sexual assault incidents have been declining since Uber began reporting data in 2017. The number dropped from 5,981 reported cases in 2017-2018 to 2,717 in 2021-2022, signaling potential improvements in rider safety.

The feature also addresses the gender imbalance in ride-sharing drivers, with women representing only about 20% of Uber’s driver workforce in the United States. By providing more control and comfort for both riders and drivers, Uber hopes to attract more female drivers and riders to its platform.

Drivers can also opt into the “women rider preference” setting, giving them the flexibility to choose their rider demographic. This mutual selection process represents a significant step towards creating a more personalized and secure ride-sharing experience.

As ride-sharing continues to evolve, features like these demonstrate the industry’s growing commitment to addressing safety concerns and creating more inclusive transportation options.