Every so often, news of an assault, rape, and even murder in a cab or Uber hits the headlines. These reports create the impression crime rates are alarmingly high in private and public transport industries.
Our list of Uber vs. taxi safety statistics aims to determine how dangerous such rides can be. We gathered the most recent information on crime and safety standards for these services to evaluate the more secure option.
You will further find out what dangers and challenges the drivers face every day and the general preferences of the public when it comes to safe transport.
Most Relevant Uber vs. Taxi Safety Facts (Editor’s Pick)
- A fatal physical assault occurred in nine out of 1.3 billion Uber rides in a year
- 42% of all Uber in-ride sexual assault reports come from drivers
- 58 fatal Uber car crashes happened in a year
- 45% of female riders prefer having a driver of the same gender
- Only 1% of taxi drivers in New York City are female
- Taxi drivers commit around 14 cases of physical assault every year
Uber Safety Statistics in the US
1. A fatal physical assault occurs in nine out of 1.3 billion Uber rides.
(Uber 2020 Report)
According to the most recent data, fatal physical assaults are exceedingly rare in Uber rides — 0.000001% annually.
The Uber crime rate remained the same over a two-year period.
2. 45% of female passengers prefer female drivers.
(Alarm.org)
Uber female driver safety statistics show that only 9% of women prefer male drivers. Meanwhile, nearly half feel safer with a driver of the same gender.
3. 280 Uber drivers attempted to rape a passenger in a year.
(Uber 2020 Report)
The most recent Uber rape stats show 280 yearly attempts of non-consensual sexual penetration in 1.3 billion Uber rides, translating into a rate of 0.00002%.
4. 58 fatal Uber car crashes happened in a year.
(Uber 2020 Report)
Uber safety statistics show of 1.3 billion annual Uber trips in the US, 58 ended in a fatal car crash.
Similarly, there were 49 fatalities out of 1 billion rides back in 2017.
5. 10% of Uber drivers are over 71 years old.
(The Rideshare Guy)
A surprising portion of Uber’s driver demographics is older than 71 — one in every ten drivers.
Another 43% are over 61-year-old.
6. 37% of Uber customers are in the 16-24 age range.
(BuildFire)
Given its app-centric user experience, it makes sense the company would attract a lot of young people.
Uber’s customer demographics reveal that most of its US customers are up to 24 years old. Further, 28% are in the 25-34 age range.
On the other hand, only 6% of the customers are between 55 and 64 years old.
7. 3045 instances of sexual assault occurred in Uber rides in a year.
(Uber 2020 Report)
The most recent Uber crime statistics report 3,045 sexual assault instances out of 1.3 billion car rides in a year.
These numbers include non-consensual touching, kissing, and attempted or completed penetration.
8. Uber drivers report 42% of all in-ride sexual assault cases.
(Uber Safety Report)
The Uber sexual harassment statistics reveal that the driver was assaulted in over 40% of all cases.
In only 2% of the instances, a third party reported the crime.
9. 99.9% of all Uber rides are perfectly safe.
(Uber 2020 Report)
While the dangers of Uber are undeniable, almost all of the approximate three million daily trips in the US are without accidents. Only 0.0003% of customers experience safety violations.
Taxi Driver Crime Statistics and Safety Data
10. Nearly 208,000 taxi drivers work in the US.
(Statista, Lawyer Friend)
The most recent data shows 207,920 people work as taxi drivers, and the number is growing every year. For instance, there were 198,470 taxi drivers in 2017.
The number of Uber employees has outpaced the number of taxi drivers in the US. Namely, there were over 327,000 Uber drivers in 2019.
11. 184 out of every 1000 taxi drivers have faced a non-fatal physical assault.
(HealthDay)
The taxi industry statistics suggest this is one of the most dangerous professions in the US regarding assault cases.
The only jobs that rank higher are police officers and security guards, with 306 and 218 instances per 1,000, respectively.
12. 14 rapes in cabs were reported in a year in New York City.
(Wall Street Journal)
According to the most recent taxi rape statistics from NYC, there were 14 cases in a year. This indicated a sharp increase compared to the previous years with an average of ten instances.
13. 1% of taxi drivers in New York City are women.
(NCBI, Statista)
Around 40% of Uber drivers in 2020 were female.
Taxi driver demographics tell a completely different story. For example, only 1% of cab drivers in NYC are female.
Uber vs. taxi safety statistics for women show that Uber presents a safer option in this regard.
14. On average, 34 taxi drivers are murdered every year.
(On Labor)
According to the latest taxi crime rate, the murder rate of cab drivers varies between nine and 19 per 100,000 people.
These rates are from 21 to 33 times that of the national average.
15. 94% of the attacks on taxi drivers happen while the driver is inside the cab.
(Taxi Library)
Taxi safety statistics reveal most attacks occur when the driver is in their car. Gunshot wounds and head or the neck trauma are the major causes of death.
16. Around 14 cases of taxi drivers physically assaulting a client occur every year.
(Ride Safe)
The most recent data reveals about 14 taxi drivers commit such offenses every year.
Our Uber vs. taxi safety facts and stats show that Uber drivers are responsible for 11 fatal physical assaults between 2017 and 2018.
17. Taxi drivers face the highest murder rate among professions.
(Bloomberg, Taxi Library)
The reasons taxi drivers face such murder probability are many. Working alone with cash, during the night, and in high-crime areas are among the primary ones.
Uber vs. Taxi Safety Statistics — Wrapup
Judging by all this information, taxi drivers seem to have the most dangerous job. On the other hand, Uber’s ubiquitous presence on the global market results in more crime or car accident cases overall.
Our collection of Uber vs. taxi safety facts and figures also reveals that plenty of Uber drivers face dangers like murder and physical or sexual assault. These cases, however, are generally overshadowed by customer incidents.
Both services face and pose various risks due to the different business models and customer demographics. Depending on your personal preferences, you can choose which of the two options is more convenient and secure for you.
People Also Ask
One of the most prominent advantages taxis offer over Uber is driver experience.
Many Uber drivers are relatively new to the private transportation business, so they tend to be less effective in navigating the roads. On the other hand, taxi drivers usually have much more experience, and can ride the streets with speed and confidence.
In that sense, if you need to get somewhere fast, a taxi will probably be more helpful.
Uber has had over 3,000 cases of sexual assault happen between 2017 and 2018, in addition to other crimes and accidents. This could make Uber potentially unsafe, however, these numbers are tiny compared to the millions of problem-free fares happening every day.
Uber drivers aren’t exactly safe, either. Around 40% of their employees have also suffered sexual assault, harassment, physical assault, and more.
Uber is generally safe for women, despite the thousands of reported sexual assault cases in the 2017-2018 period. Over 99% of all rides still end without a single incident.
You can also request a female driver when using the Uber services for additional security.
Taxi drivers dislike Uber because it infringes on their industry.
Before Uber, taxi drivers were the only option for people in need of quick, convenient private transportation to their desired destination. Then, Uber started offering what taxis didn’t — greater digitalization, lower rates, emphasis on courteousness, etc.
Consequently, taxis have lost ground in the industry to Uber and other similar ridesharing services.
Uber kidnapping statistics show such cases are exceedingly rare but have happened on occasion.
One relatively recent case involved an Uber driver allegedly kidnapping a 15-year-old girl in New York to sexually assault her at his home.
Another notable case took place in Pittsburgh in 2019. The driver picked up two girls, made comments about their appearance, stopped at an intersection, and said he wouldn’t let them go. Luckily, the girls managed to get away without suffering any physical harm.
Uber drivers do get robbed on occasion. In particular, carjackings of Uber vehicles have been on the rise since late 2020.
Robbery incidents have resulted in many Uber drivers demanding better safety and monitoring measures for their cars. While they do have cameras observing them at work, they aren’t proving enough to deter most robbers.
Many Uber vs. taxi safety statistics still point to Uber drivers being safer than cabbies.
