Safety of female ride-hailing passengers: Perception and prevention

Ride-hailing services have rapidly expanded globally, becoming a significant part of urban transportation. Companies like Uber and Didi Chuxing have millions of users, altering the demand for public transport. However, safety concerns, particularly for female passengers, are prominent due to frequent incidents of sexual assault, theft, and other crimes. This study addresses this gap by focusing on the subjective experiences of female passengers in China, exploring their safety perceptions and the preventative measures they adopt. The research uses both objective data (ride-hailing criminal adjudications) and subjective data (a survey of Chinese women) to understand the complexities of safety in the ride-hailing context and to identify areas for improvement in safety management and protection mechanisms.

Existing literature highlights safety concerns in ride-hailing, including personal safety and privacy issues. Studies often employ qualitative approaches, focusing on technical risks (privacy, legitimacy, security) and proposing strategies like dashcams, distress alarms, and improved driver screening. However, quantitative studies from the passenger perspective, particularly regarding female passengers' experiences, are lacking. Research on women's safety in public transportation demonstrates gendered differences in travel patterns, perceived safety, and preventative actions. Women tend to travel less at night, avoid high-crime areas, and engage in protective behaviors like traveling with companions. Existing studies primarily focus on public transport, with fewer examining ride-hailing specifically. This study aims to fill this gap by using both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand the unique safety concerns and preventative actions of female ride-hailing passengers in China.

The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach. Objective data was collected from 7898 ride-hailing criminal judgment documents from the China Judgments Online platform, focusing on 674 cases involving passenger victimization. Subjective data was gathered through a survey of 596 Chinese female ride-hailing passengers. The survey employed a 5-point Likert scale to assess safety perception and preventative action tendencies. The survey instrument included questions on demographics, travel habits, and perceptions of safety in various ride-hailing scenarios. The scenarios included different driver characteristics (age, appearance, behavior), and travel arrangements (alone, with friends, with family). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, reliability and validity tests, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify latent factors (safety perception and preventative action tendencies), Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and independent sample t-tests to examine differences based on demographic and travel-related variables. The study aimed to control for common method bias using Harman's single-factor test and assessed convergent and discriminant validity of the measurement scales.

The study found that female passengers perceive ride-hailing as marginally unsafe overall. Driver’s words and actions strongly influenced safety judgments; negative driver behavior and appearance increased feelings of insecurity. Traveling with companions significantly increased perceived safety. The most common preventative actions were using mobile phones for communication, sharing trip information, and avoiding risky situations (nighttime travel, remote areas). Significant differences in safety perception and preventative actions were observed across various demographic and travel-related factors. Older women were more sensitive to driver image, while younger women were more likely to be victimized. Higher education levels were associated with more objective safety perceptions and a greater willingness to engage in potentially risky rides. Low-income women were more sensitive to driver image and behavior, possibly reflecting their experiences in less safe neighborhoods. Frequency of ride-hailing use correlated with a decreased sense of risk, and past victimization experiences significantly impacted safety perceptions and behaviors.

The findings highlight the significant role of driver behavior and appearance in shaping female passengers' safety perceptions. The positive impact of companionship underscores the importance of social support in mitigating safety concerns. The prevalence of mobile phone use for safety reflects the adaptation of technology for risk management. The observed heterogeneity in safety perceptions and preventative actions emphasizes the need for targeted interventions based on demographic and contextual factors. The study's findings have implications for both ride-hailing companies and policymakers, suggesting improvements to driver screening, training, technology, and urban planning to enhance the safety and accessibility of ride-hailing for all, particularly women.

This study provides valuable insights into the safety perceptions and preventative behaviors of female ride-hailing passengers in China. The findings reveal the importance of driver behavior, companionship, and technology in shaping safety judgments and actions. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address the heterogeneity in safety perceptions and enhance the safety of ride-hailing services for women. Future research could explore the effectiveness of specific safety interventions, examine the impact of ride-hailing regulations, and investigate cultural and contextual factors influencing safety perceptions in different regions.

The study's reliance on self-reported data might introduce bias. The focus on China limits the generalizability of the findings to other contexts. The cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences. Future studies should employ longitudinal designs, explore diverse geographical areas, and utilize mixed methods to obtain richer data.