Ride-hailing giant Uber has introduced a new feature across the United States that allows female drivers and passengers to request trips exclusively with other women, a move the company says is designed to improve safety and comfort on its platform.
The feature, called Women Preferences, was rolled out nationwide on Monday after a pilot program last year showed many women felt “more comfortable in the back seat” and “more confident behind the wheel,” according to Uber.
With the update, women using the app can reserve trips with female drivers in advance or set a preference that increases the chances of being matched with another woman. In cities where teen accounts are supported, teenagers and their parents can also request women drivers.
Uber said the change was introduced after feedback from female riders and drivers who wanted greater control over how they travel and earn through the app.
Currently, about one-fifth of Uber’s drivers in the United States are women, though the ratio varies widely depending on the city.
However, the rollout comes amid a legal challenge. Two California-based Uber drivers have filed a class action lawsuit arguing that the new feature discriminates against men by potentially giving female drivers access to a larger pool of passengers.
The lawsuit claims the policy could violate the Unruh Civil Rights Act, a California law that prohibits discrimination by businesses based on characteristics such as sex.
Uber has pushed back against the claim, filing a motion to move the case to private arbitration based on agreements drivers sign when joining the platform. The company also argued that the policy supports an important public interest by improving safety.
A similar legal dispute has emerged for Uber’s rival Lyft, which introduced a feature in 2024 allowing riders and drivers to prioritize matches with women and non-binary users.
Safety concerns remain a major issue for the ride-hailing industry. Last month, a U.S. court ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by a driver using the platform. The ruling could influence thousands of other legal cases filed against the company.
Uber has previously argued it should not be held responsible for criminal acts committed by drivers because they are classified as independent contractors and must undergo background checks before joining the service.
The company, headquartered in San Francisco, said it plans to appeal that decision.
Uber noted that similar women-matching features are already available for drivers in more than 40 countries and for riders in several markets, including Spain, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.
