Woman Leaving 'Hair and Fingerprints' in Every Uber Sparks Safety Debate

A viral video showing a woman leaving fingerprints in an Uber has sparked a discussion online about women's safety.

In the footage shared on TikTok, which can be seen here, user brennalina explains that she leaves some of her hair and fingerprints when she is traveling inside an Uber car.

While she didn't directly say why she leaves her hair and fingerprints in each vehicle, it was widely interpreted by TikTok users as her leaving proof in the case of a possible sexual assault.

In a statement sent to Newsweek, Uber said: "Safety is at the core of everything we do" and that it had developed a number of features via its app that could be used on a trip.

In July, legal firm Slater Slater Schulman, LLP, filed a lawsuit against Uber on behalf of women who alleged they had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted by drivers in multiple states.

The civil lawsuit claims Uber endangered passengers by failing to put adequate protections in place.

Uber said in a June statement that there had been 998 sexual assault incidents and 141 rape reports in 2020. The company also disclosed it had received 3,824 reports of the most severe categories of sexual assault between 2019 and 2020.

Since being shared on Monday, November 28, the video has been viewed more than 17.9 million times and attracted some 7,550 comments.

The TikTok video sparked a discussion, mostly among women, about what they do while in an Uber in a bid to ensure their safety.

User reallyrux said: "Set your Uber name to a guy's name. It will look like a dad/boyfriend/ boss ordered it for you, thus you have someone waiting for you."

Jasmine posted: "I sit directly behind the driver. They may insist I move and it's uncomfortable saying no, but I'm not moving."

While another TikTok user said: "I always pretend I'm on the phone with someone as I enter. I'll usually be like 'okay, I'm getting in the Uber. 'I'll send you my location. Love you, bye.'"

Uber said there were a number of features the company had that could keep passengers safe while on a trip, which included:

• Emergency button: Uber users are able to reach out to 911 directly by tapping on the emergency assistance button found in the safety toolkit. Calling 911 is available nationwide. The ability to text 911 discreetly is available across 60% of the U.S.
• 911 integration pilot in 1800+ jurisdictions: If a rider or driver uses the emergency button in one of these cities, our tech and partnership with Rapid SOS enables key trip details to be digitally sent to 911 dispatchers including the caller's name, make and model of the Uber car, license plate and GPS.
• GPS Tracking - Each trip is GPS tracked so there is a record of the trip. Pertinent information is included on the receipt and trip history.
• RideCheck helps make sure drivers and riders are OK in the event of a possible crash or unexpected long stop.
• Trusted Contacts: Riders can designate up to five friends and family members as Trusted Contacts to be prompted to share trip details with them during every ride or night-time trips.
• Share My Trip: Once a trip starts, riders can use the Share My Trip feature in the app to share their driver's name, photo, license plate and location with a friend or family member so they can follow the trip in real-time. They will receive a text or push notification that tracks the trip and estimated time of arrival.
• "Live Help" from a Safety Agent: In August 2022, we announced Live Help from an ADT safety agent. For situations that don't require police, fire or medical, Uber users can request a call or text from an ADT agent who can stay on the phone for the duration of the trip and can reach out to 911 if necessary.
• On-Trip Reporting: This feature allows riders to report a non-emergency safety issue during an Uber trip, when it is top of mind, so they don't have to wait until after the trip ends.

Newsweek has contacted brennalina for comment.