‘I’d prefer to walk’: Sexual violence in rideshares leaving women in fear of catching cabs and Ubers

A female-only rideshare company founded in Melbourne is experiencing a surge in demand, as Victorian women bravely share their terrifying ordeals while riding in taxis and Ubers alone.

A female-only rideshare company founded in Melbourne is experiencing a surge in demand as women seek out safer transport alternatives, with alarming data revealing about two dozen report falling victim to predatory drivers in Victoria every year.

At least 23 women reported being sexually assaulted or harassed by drivers of taxis or “private cars”, including rideshares, between April 2023 and March 2024, according to Crime Statistics Agency figures exclusively obtained by the Herald Sun.

But the true number is believed to be far higher, with dozens if not hundreds of cases never reported.

Shebah chief executive Sarra Stewart said the national crisis of violence against women had pushed women of all ages to turn to her company, which employed only female drivers, to ensure they arrive at their destination safely.

“The demand’s always been there but I would say it’s actually become almost all the time now,” she said.

“It used to be night but now it’s starting earlier from about 5pm. This stuff is happening in taxis and Ubers, so now women are just so much more cautious all the time.”

Shebah chief executive Sarra Stewart says the demand for the female-only rideshare service has “always been there”. Picture: Alison Wynd

The Herald Sun has spoken to dozens of women about their experiences catching taxis and rideshares alone, with one young woman recounting the terrifying moment she was locked inside an Uber until she gave her phone number to the driver.

“I felt really unsafe. I did not get an Uber for a long time afterwards, but I feel like there aren’t many alternatives,” she said.

Some of the women said they felt so unsafe they avoid catching taxis or Ubers, preferring to catch trains or trams instead.

“I’d prefer to catch a train, or even walk, than catch an Uber,” one woman said.

Her friend added: “I’m only going to take an Uber if it’s a last resort. I’d rather take the bus.”

According to the data, 117 women have reported being sexually assaulted or harassed by drivers of taxis or “private cars” since 2019, with 31, 23, 19, 21 and 23 reports recorded across the five-year period.

Shebah is Australia’s only all-women rideshare service and was founded by a Melbourne mum in 2017.

Asked whether the explosion in its use was due to the brazenness of other drivers, Ms Stewart said: “Absolutely. If you knew some of the stories I’ve heard. There’s no time of day, it’s happening anytime of day. There’s been some horrific stories of people undercover in taxis that are scouting schools. It’s just awful.”

Ms Stewart added: “We’re seeing a lot more mothers and fathers concerned for their teenage or slightly older daughters. How are they getting home? Who’s taking them? They’re now organising their transport for their kids because they’re hearing all this stuff.”

She said she encouraged more female drivers to sign up to the company to help meet the surge in demand.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said it was “never too late to report a sexual assault”.

“Delays in reporting are common and police encourage victims to report an incident regardless of when or where it occurred,” she said.

“While passengers using rideshare services can take simple steps to minimise risks, the responsibility is always on the perpetrator who commits these crimes and the priority of police is to prevent and investigate these matters.”

Some women told the Herald Sun they avoid catching taxis or Ubers, preferring to catch trains or trams instead.

Currently, there are more than 78,000 commercial passenger vehicle drivers accredited with Safe Transport Victoria.

A 13cabs spokesman said the company had received no reports of sexual assaults involving its 5000 Victorian drivers this year.

But he said there was one complaint about an alleged attempted sexual assault in regional Victoria last year, which led to the removal of the driver’s accreditation.

“13cabs taxis are equipped with security cameras, back-to-base alarm systems and clear vehicle livery, ensuring that our drivers and vehicles are easily recognisable,” he said.

“This helps prevent the risk of passengers mistakenly getting into the wrong vehicle, a concern often associated with rideshare.”

An Uber spokeswoman did not say how many reports of sexual assault it had received in recent years.

“We are committed to ensuring we have robust processes and cutting edge features built into our technology to support the safety of everyone who uses our app,” she said.

A Safe Transport Victoria spokesman said: “The vast majority of drivers do the right thing and provide good service to passengers and there is no place for inappropriate behaviour in the commercial passenger vehicle industry.”

Silver Top Taxi and DiDi were contacted for comment.

‘Don’t let the fear of offending override your safety’: Tips from personal safety expert

Trusting your instincts is one of the most important factors in self defence, a leading personal safety expert has cautioned.

Director of Live Safe Education Dave Friedman said staying safe in rideshares could be distilled into three categories: waiting for the car, when the car arrives and being inside the car.

“Number one is to avoid waiting outside by yourself in a dark, isolated area,” Mr Friedman said.

“Ideally, you wait inside a house or a building. If you have to wait outside, try and wait in populated areas or in a group.”

Self defence expert Dave Friedman has offered top tips on how to stay safe in rideshares. Picture: David Caird

When the Uber arrives, he said the first step is to triple check both the registration plate and driver match the app.

“If you feel comfortable after checking, then get into the Uber – but if you get a bad vibe from the driver, or anything feels even slightly off, just don’t get into the car,” he said.

“When you look at victim impact statements — especially with females — they are filled with statements like ‘I thought something was wrong, but I didn’t want to cause a scene’.

“Do not let the fear of offending override your sense of safety.

“Don’t ever be scared to offend or embarrass someone and put your own safety at risk.”

Once in the car, Mr Friedman said to always sit in the back seat as it provides visibility of the road and route – and if necessary, a physical advantage for self defence.

“In an absolute worst case scenario, if you were in a position where you needed to physically defend yourself, you could do that far better from the back than you could from the passenger seat,” he added.

“Drastic and desperate situations call for drastic or desperate measures.

“If you’re also compromised by alcohol or drugs, you are automatically in more danger.

“It’s not right, but it’s the reality — and someone who has predatory instincts will see that as something to take advantage of.”

‘I didn’t want to seem dramatic’: Terrifying rideshare assault

Stephanie Corbett should have been able to jump into an Uber after leaving a friend’s birthday party and trust that she would arrive home safely.

But when the driver reached over, squeezed her thigh and then slid his hand inside her shirt as he drove her home, she said she “completely froze”.

Six years have since passed but the 27-year-old from Melbourne vividly remembers the ordeal, sharing her story with the Herald Sun in a bid to shine a light on the issue.

Stephanie Corbett suffered a terrifying ordeal when she was sexually assaulted by a rideshare driver in 2018. Picture: Josie Hayden

“I think we have a massive issue with how women are spoken about and viewed in general … because (offending against women) is not just in Ubers,” she said.

“It’s at parties, it’s out, it’s in homes, it’s everywhere.”

Ms Corbett said that before the assault the driver had dropped off two of her friends.

She was sitting in the front seat and decided against moving to the back seat, not wanting to “seem dramatic”.

But soon after, the driver claimed he was studying to be a masseur.

“Eventually, he reached over and he put his hand on my leg, squeezing my thigh,” she said.

The offending continued, despite Ms Corbett politely telling him she did not want a massage.

“I started thinking: ‘What if he doesn’t take me home? What if it takes me somewhere else?’”

The driver who assaulted Ms Corbett was eventually convicted and fined. Picture: Jenny Evans

She said he then “contorted” his arm to slide his hand down her top and sexually assault her.

Afterwards, she managed to get him to drop her off before she reached her house.

Ms Corbett reported the crime to police, which led to her attacker pleading guilty to sexual assault and being convicted and fined $6000.

She now believes more women feel safer catching public transport than travelling alone in a taxi or rideshare.

“When they introduced PSOs at train stations and having them at every train station at night, it was a big improvement for public transport,” she said.

“But prior to that, it was definitely: ‘There’s creeps on public transport, catch a rideshare’.”

She added: “There needs to be more conversations about this, from men to other men, listening to women and their stories, and then men using that information to have serious conversations and calling out behaviour in their mates.”