In today’s society, everyone is cautious for their safety.  It seems that in more recent years, women, in particular, are taking more precautions to keep themselves safe from unsolicited sexual encounters forced upon them.  An outrageous number of people fall victim to sexual assault each year; of those, the majority of victims are females ages 15-24.

Uber is a service that makes having a ride to anywhere a possibility. Through the Uber app, customers request a ride and nearby Uber drivers will get in contact with them to find a place to pick them up and drive them to their destination for a reasonable fee.

Uber’s database shows  nearly 12,000 incidences of sexual assault complaints filed against their company.  Uber states that only 1 in every 3.3 million trips involves a sexual assault claim.

Uber can be a toxic service for customers if their drivers end up being irresponsible, unprofessional people abusing the system.  Drivers have the power to follow a customer to their places of work, home, or may even save the customer’s phone number to their personal phone and make attempts at unwanted contact to the customer.  All of these are actions the driver may take without the customer’s knowledge.  Irresponsible drivers using their own cars have a space readily available for them to exploit.

After information was leaked that regards Uber’s sexual assault incidents, Chariot for Women was created. Uncoincidentally, it was launched by a former driver for Uber. Chariot for Women would be a ride service  for female passengers with female drivers.  Unfortunately, the company may be breaking anti-discriminating laws for refusing male drivers or passengers.  The Chariot for Women website says their goals are to ensure safety, comfort, and pleasure to all women, as well as giving back to female-focus charities and foundations by donating a certain percentage of rider’s fare to them.  Chariot for Women isn’t discriminating against males, but rather hoping to protect willing females from the risk of sexual assault through their Uber.

Nobody is advocating for segregation between males and females. Chariot for women is simply trying to provide an alternate service. Uber is still available to all genders.

Sexual assault can happen to anyone by anyone regardless of gender, location, or age. Chariot for Women won’t end sexual assault but that won’t stop them from trying to make the difference.