Is Uber Safe?

Is Uber safe? That is one of the most common questions we hear from Uber riders, Uber passengers, and concerned family members across Chicago. Whether someone is taking an Uber ride home after a late night downtown, commuting to work, or helping a loved one get across the city, safety is always top of mind. As a Chicago-based personal injury law firm handling rideshare service cases, we understand why people ask this question and why the answer deserves nuance, data, and honesty.

Chicago’s busy streets, dense traffic, and nightlife corridors mean rideshare companies like Uber play a major role in daily transportation. We work with clients throughout the city who rely on Uber instead of traditional taxis or driving themselves, and we believe riders deserve clear information about risks, protections, and what to do when something goes wrong.

Common Safety Concerns During Uber Rides

While millions of rides happen every day, Uber riders still face real safety concerns that should not be ignored. These include:

• Traffic accidents involving another car, taxi drivers, or third-party motorists
• Unsafe driving behavior, such as speeding or distracted driving
• Physical violence or being sexually assaulted by another person
• Emergency situations involving impaired drivers or criminal offenses
• Other situations where riders feel unsafe or threatened

Understanding these risks is the first step toward protecting your own safety and understanding your legal rights.

Uber Safety Statistics

Uber publishes safety reports to provide transparency about incidents occurring on its platform. Uber’s 2021-2022 US Safety Report provides valuable insights into the frequency of serious incidents and how Uber compares with broader national trends.

Between January 2021 and December 2022, Uber recorded more than 1.8 billion rides in the U.S. That included approximately 770 million rides in 2021 and 1.1 billion rides in 2022. During this period, Uber vehicles traveled over 17.5 billion miles, averaging more than 2.5 million rides per day.

According to Uber’s safety reports, 99.9998% of rides ended without a critical safety incident, and 99.9% ended without any safety incident at all. While these figures show that serious incidents are rare, they still occur, and when they do, the consequences can be severe.

During this period:

• About 1.2% of rides involved a support request, usually for non-safety issues such as lost items or refunds
• Roughly 0.1% of rides involved a safety-related concern, most commonly complaints about driving behavior
• Approximately 0.0002% of rides involved a reported critical safety incident

Uber categorizes its most serious incidents into three types: motor vehicle fatalities, fatal physical assaults, and sexual assault.

Motor Vehicle Fatalities

Uber reports a decrease in the rate of crashes overall while the motor vehicle fatality rate remains substantially lower than the national average, even as traffic deaths increased nationwide.

Uber motor vehicle fatality data (2021–2022):

• 153 total fatalities
• About 1 in every 12,000,000 rides
• 0.000008% of all rides
• 0.87 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled on Uber
• 1.35 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled nationally

Although Uber’s rate was lower, its fatality rate increased by roughly 40% in the reporting period, compared with an 11% increase in nationwide traffic trends.

Urban areas experienced a larger increase in fatalities than rural areas. Nationally, 60% of fatalities occurred in urban environments, while 97% of Uber-related fatalities occurred in cities, where Uber operates most frequently.

Of all Uber-related fatalities, 45% involved people using the Uber app, including 29% riders (about 1 in 43,000,000 rides) and 16% drivers (about 1 in 76,000,000 rides).

Risky driving by third-party drivers not using the Uber app played a major role:

• 56% of Uber-related fatalities involved alcohol impairment, speeding, or wrong-way driving
• Third-party drivers caused 95% of those fatalities
• One-third involved third-party alcohol-impaired drivers

Uber’s review found that 18% of crashes were likely caused by the Uber driver, 25% involved shared fault, and in 58%of cases the Uber driver did not contribute to the crash.

These findings reinforce that fatal Uber accidents often result from external factors beyond the Uber driver’s control.

Fatal Physical Assaults

During 2021–2022, Uber reported 36 fatal physical assaults, which occurred at a rate of approximately 1 in 53,000,000 rides, or 0.000002% of all rides, marking a sharp 96% increase compared to the prior reporting period.

Unlike earlier reports, the majority of victims were drivers, accounting for 61% of fatalities, while 39% were riders. In nearly half of the cases, the accused was a third party rather than an Uber platform user, and 32% of driver fatalities were reported to involve motor vehicle theft.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault remains one of the most serious safety concerns for Uber riders, particularly female passengers. While Uber reports a long-term decline, these incidents still require attention and accountability.

During 2021–2022, Uber received 2,717 reports across its most serious categories of sexual violence, roughly 1 in every 700,000 rides (0.0001% of all rides). This represented a 22% decrease from the prior reporting period and a 44% decrease from Uber’s first safety report.

68% of reports were made against drivers, 31% were reported against riders, and about 1% involved third parties.

In cases of non-consensual sexual penetration, the rider was assaulted the majority of the time. Women accounted for 89% of survivors, while men represented 8%.

Non-consensual sexual assault incident data, broken down by 5 categories:

• Kissing of a non-sexual body part: 338 reports; ~1 in 6,000,000 trips (0.00002%); −43% rate change; accused: 51% rider, 48% driver, ~1% third party
• Attempted sexual penetration: 285 reports; ~1 in 7,000,000 trips (0.00002%); +10% rate change; accused: 11% rider, 87% driver, ~2% third party
• Touching of a sexual body part: 1,401 reports; ~1 in 1,000,000 trips (0.00007%); −26% rate change; accused: 40% rider, 59% driver, ~1% third party
• Kissing of a sexual body part: 338 reports; ~1 in 6,000,000 trips (0.00002%); −18% rate change; accused: 16% rider, 84% driver, ~0–1% third party
• Sexual penetration: 355 reports; ~1 in 5,000,000 trips (0.00002%); 0% rate change; accused: 7% rider, 90% driver, ~3% third party

How Uber Aims to Create a Safer Ride

Uber has implemented multiple systems designed to reduce risk and improve rider access to safety tools. These efforts focus on screening, monitoring behavior, and empowering users through the Uber app.

Uber Driver Standards and Community Guidelines

Uber requires drivers to meet background check requirements and follow strict community guidelines. These checks include reviews of driving history and, where legally permitted, certain criminal records.

According to Uber:

• Over 750,000 prospective drivers failed safety in 2021–2022
• More than 185,000 drivers were removed due to ongoing checks
• Over 15,000 rider accounts have been banned

If an Uber driver causes an accident, or if questions arise about Uber’s insurance requirements, liability, and coverage, the outcome depends on the driver’s app status and applicable auto insurance policies.

Why Checking the License Plate Number and Other Details Matters Before Every Ride

Before starting a ride, confirming the license plate number, vehicle details, and driver information in the app helps reduce risk. Uber recommends requesting your ride indoors, waiting inside until the correct car arrives, and having the driver confirm your name before you get in.

During the ride, sit in the back seat, wear your seat belt, and protect your personal information to stay safe. Sharing your ride with trusted contacts, such as a friend, adds another layer of protection.

If something feels wrong, trust your sense, keep your phone accessible, and follow the route and your location in the app. After the ride, leaving feedback helps improve safety for others. If an incident occurs, knowing your options for an Uber accident claim is an important next step.

Uber App Safety Features: ‘Call the Police’ Button, Audio Recording, and More

Uber has built multiple in-app safety features to help riders respond quickly in an emergency and get help immediately when something goes wrong. These tools are designed to give users direct access to support, ensure compliance with local regulations, and make it easier to contact emergency services, including the option to call 911 directly from the app.

If something feels unsafe or an accident happens, prioritize safety and get help immediately. We regularly advise clients on what to do after an Uber accident, including documenting the incident, seeking medical care, and understanding insurance options.

Book a Free Consultation

If you or a family member has been injured, assaulted, or harmed while using a rideshare company, we are here to help. We offer a free consultation, work on a contingency-fee basis, and handle Uber accident lawsuits across Chicago. Contact us today.