Hannah Nilles, Head of Safety for the Americas at Uber, said that the company’s safety initiatives have led to a 44% reduction in serious assault incidents. This statement was made on Uber's website, highlighting the company's commitment to transparency.
"Our approach is making a difference: reports of serious sexual assault on Uber have fallen by 44," said Nilles. "We were the first—and, unfortunately, still one of the only—companies to publish this kind of data publicly. Because we believe in transparency and want to be held accountable for progress."
Uber has expanded its safety measures across North and South America by introducing features such as an in-app emergency button, ADT live support, and encrypted audio recording. These initiatives aim to deter and document incidents. In Brazil and Mexico, audio recording was piloted to address regional security concerns, while in the United States, safety toolkits and enhanced background checks have been emphasized. According to Reuters, these steps reflect Uber’s effort to rebuild trust and enhance rider and driver safety.
The company's most recent U.S. Safety Report indicates progress in reducing serious incidents. Reports of sexual assault decreased by 44% from 2017 to 2022, with overall rates of the most severe categories of assault declining during that period. According to Uber’s newsroom, it is among the few rideshare firms releasing detailed safety statistics as part of its transparency commitment.
Lyft has followed suit by releasing its own safety transparency reports. From 2020 to 2022, Lyft recorded 2,651 reports of severe sexual assaults and 23 fatal physical assaults across approximately 1.41 billion rides. According to Lyft’s 2024 Safety Transparency Report, these figures represent declines from its data between 2017 and 2019, underscoring industry-wide scrutiny of rideshare safety practices.
Nilles serves as Uber’s Head of Safety for the Americas, overseeing policy, product innovation, and reporting aimed at reducing risks for riders and drivers. She has publicly emphasized progress on reducing sexual assaults and strengthening accountability measures. According to Uber’s newsroom, she authored the company’s 2025 safety statement.
Uber's global safety mission focuses on layered protections such as annual background checks, continuous driver screening, GPS-based RideCheck alerts, and emergency in-app features. The company also collaborates with law enforcement and advocacy groups to improve standards and accountability. According to Uber’s safety page, these initiatives are linked to regular transparency through published U.S. Safety Reports.