Grab Testing New Feature That Allows Female Drivers to Match With More Female Riders

By
Nadia Irdina
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8 Mar 2024 is International Women’s Day. It marks the progress of women – their achievements and strength. 

However, the fight for women’s rights is still an uphill battle. That’s where the ride-hailing service Grab chimed in. 

Grab announced on 6 March that they are launching a Women’s Programme with a feature named “Women Passengers Preferred BETA”.

Keeping Women Drivers and Passengers Safe 

For those of us who rely on private ride-hailing services to get around, be it because we’re running late or you prefer the quiet and convenience of travelling by car, there’s always the apparent tension between you and the driver. 

Grab released the “Quiet Ride” feature around the same time last year to get around that awkward tension.

This time, the “Women Passengers Preferred BETA” aims to ease the stress faced by women drivers, and at the same time, allow them to pick up other women who may be more comfortable being driven by a woman. 

Be honest, how many of you out there joked around about women being bad drivers? It’s unfortunately a common occurrence that has steered interested woman drivers from taking on ride-hailing as a job. 

Grab outlined some factors that make women hesitant to take the wheel: 

  • Traditional expectations around women: stay home, stay in the kitchen, take care of the children
  • Minimal representation in the ride-hailing industry 
  • Women can’t drive

What Does the Feature Do? 

On the app, new and existing drivers can enable the feature and it will show that they prefer to pick up women passengers. 

This means that the chance of them matching with a woman in need of a ride within their vicinity will increase. Of course, it is never guaranteed. Let’s say they’re driving around Jurong East, and only men are looking for a Grab. Biobian, they will still be picked up. 

Not only that, there is the “AudioProtect” component which allow women drivers to audio record their journey.

Like a dashcam, this can help when women get verbally abused and berated for whatever reason. The recording can be used as evidence and adds as another level of protection for them. 

Similar to the Find My IPhone feature, Grab’s Women Programme has a “Share My Ride” option so that drivers can let their loved ones know where they are and what time they’re expected to come and go between points. 

Women Empowerment

Other than exciting features, Grab hopes that the programme can provide holistic support for Women in this service, and foster an environment where women can support other women. #girlcode

Women drivers who need some help starting out in ride-hailing can join Grab’s “Onboarding Buddy” initiative where they can be paired by experienced women drivers during their training. 

There are also customised training programmes that are designed specifically to help women drivers under Grab navigate topics like anti-harassment, road safety and car repair. 

There’s an unspeakable bond between women and Grab aims to cherish that by managing an online community for women drivers and holding events of all sizes for them to give feedback, share their experiences, network and create meaningful friendships.

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Nadia Irdina