Uber is introducing a new safety feature specifically designed for women, with Chicago slated as a key launch city this Wednesday. The ABC7 I-Team has revealed that this feature, known as “women drivers,” allows female riders to opt for female drivers when booking their rides.

This initiative, already active in certain locations, represents Uber’s most extensive rollout to date, encompassing Chicago and 25 other cities. The feature enables female passengers to pre-book trips with women drivers for added peace of mind by selecting the “woman driver” option in the app.

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Additionally, female riders can adjust their app settings to express a preference for female drivers. However, it’s important to note that this preference setting does not guarantee a match with a female driver every time.

Brooke Anderson, Uber’s Head of Product Communications, emphasized, “This feature empowers women by providing them with more confidence, control, and choice. It was developed in response to requests from women using our platform, who expressed that having the option to be paired with a female driver would be advantageous.”

The feature also benefits female drivers, as they can select a preference for female riders, ensuring they only receive ride requests from women. This enhancement aims to improve safety and comfort for both female drivers and passengers.

This is also something benefiting female drivers. Uber says women drivers can also set the same preferences by choosing the women rider preference, so they only have women riders.