Gurugram: Booking a cab online takes barely a minute. It has become part of daily life for millions. But a Gurugram woman’s experience has once again put a question mark on the safety of these services. Sanjana Sharma booked an Uber at 4 in the morning. What followed left her shaken. She shared the entire incident on LinkedIn and the post has been spreading rapidly across social media.
What had happened that night?
Sanjana could not reach the driver through the Uber app. To make it easier for him to locate her, she shared her personal mobile number with him. That one decision cost her dearly. During the ride the driver started demanding extra money over and above the fare showing on the app. When Sanjana refused to pay more, he did not let her get out of the cab immediately. She was alone. It was 4 in the morning. She felt scared and unsafe with no one around to help.
Harassment did not stop after the ride?
The trouble did not end when the ride got over. The driver started calling her repeatedly on her personal number. She blocked him. The calls kept coming from different numbers. She had no way to stop it. Sharing her number had opened a door she could not shut.
Why the Uber’s initial response disappointed her?
Sanjana filed a complaint with Uber customer support. The response she got was not what she expected. She claims the company told her that no ride was showing linked to her account and therefore no concrete action could be taken at that point. She was left with no resolution and no clarity.
Uber acts after post goes viral?
Once the LinkedIn post started gaining traction, Uber changed its tone. The company expressed regret over the incident. It said the safety team reached out directly to
Sanjana. Action has been taken against the driver. Uber also pointed out that the app has a Safety Line feature which passengers can use during the ride and up to 30 minutes after it ends. A 24 hour complaint facility is also available. The company advised all passengers to never share their personal phone numbers with drivers. It said the app already masks both the passenger and driver numbers to protect privacy on both sides.
What people are saying?
The post has triggered a strong reaction online. Many people have backed Sanjana and are calling for stronger safety measures in cab services. Some have also advised women travelling alone late at night to take extra precautions. The debate around passenger safety in app-based cab services is back in the spotlight.
This story is based on a social media post by the user. Independent verification of all claims has not been done.
