Archive · 6 Oct 2026
NCW Seeks Five New Safety Safeguards for App-Based Rides
The National Commission for Women has suggested new safety rules for app-based rides.
If the driver or vehicle is different from what the app showed, a woman should be able to cancel without paying a fee.
The app should notice if the ride takes an unusual route or stops for a long time.
It should also make it easy to ask for help with an SOS button.
Companies should check drivers and vehicles before allowing them to work.
Late-night rides should have extra safety steps, such as sharing trip details with trusted people.
Drivers should leave passengers in safe places.
Companies and police should respond quickly when a complaint needs help.
The National Commission for Women wants passengers to cancel without penalty if the driver or vehicle does not match the app listing.
Apps should alert passengers and companies about unusual route changes or prolonged unexplained stops.
The guidelines call for easy-to-use SOS features and round-the-clock emergency assistance.
Companies should verify drivers and vehicles, conduct background and police checks, and provide regular women’s-safety training.
Recommendations include safer drop-offs, extra precautions for late-night rides, prompt complaint handling, and preserving journey records for investigations.
- Who
- The National Commission for Women issued recommendations for app-based mobility companies, with safeguards for women passengers.
- What
- The guidelines propose ride-mismatch cancellation without penalty, route and stop alerts, SOS and emergency support, stronger checks, and safer drop-offs.
- Where
- They concern app-based cab, auto and bike-taxi journeys.
- Why
- To strengthen passenger safety and improve coordination among mobility companies, transport authorities and police.
Passenger safety responsibilities
Platform and agency responsibilities
Preventing harm during a ride
Passenger safety responsibilities
Women passengers should have clear ways to cancel mismatched rides, access SOS support, share trip details and seek safe drop-offs.
Platform and agency responsibilities
Companies should verify drivers and vehicles, monitor unusual routes and stops, and provide continuous emergency assistance.
Responding to safety complaints
Passenger safety responsibilities
Passengers need prompt help, particularly when an incident may require police intervention.
Platform and agency responsibilities
The NCW calls for coordination among mobility companies, transport authorities and police, prompt referral of relevant complaints, and preservation of journey records.
- Issuing body
- National Commission for Women (NCW)
- Services covered
- App-based cabs, autos and bike taxis
- Ride mismatch
- Women should be able to cancel without a charge if the driver or vehicle differs from the app details.
- Journey monitoring
- Apps should alert passengers and companies to unusual route deviations and prolonged unexplained stops.
- Emergency support
- The recommendations call for easy SOS access and 24×7 emergency assistance.
- Driver safeguards
- Recommendations include driver background and police verification and regular safety training.
- Complaints and records
- Complaints warranting police intervention should be referred without delay, and relevant journey records securely preserved.