Women Are Sharing How They Intentionally Leave Hair And Fingerprints In Taxis As Evidence, And It’s An Eye-Opening Reality Check
Interview
Women who use ride-sharing services like Uber have begun leaving hair and their fingerprints inside the car as evidence, in case they’re attacked. Some of them are spreading the advice on TikTok, as a warning to everyone and a reminder of the brutal reality.
User @brennalina went viral on the video-sharing platform after posting a TikTok about how she leaves behind DNA and fingerprint evidence every time she uses Uber. The video started up a very important discussion about women having to constantly worry about their safety. You’ll find the full video, as well as how the internet reacted to it, below.
How do you stay safe when traveling, dear Pandas? Have you ever felt unsafe while using Uber or other similar services? Share your thoughts, advice, and experiences in the comments.
Brenna, who filmed the viral video, was kind enough to answer Bored Panda’s questions. She said that her post on TikTok actually received very polarized reactions. “The majority of women who commented were supportive and positive, while the majority of men were dismissive or rude. This post has millions of views and it really drove home for me how little men understand about how different life can be as a woman and how we have to think and behave differently to feel safe,” she explained.
Some women have begun leaving their hair and fingerprints inside the car whenever they use ride-sharing services like Uber
Image credits: brennalina
Image credits: brennalina
Brenna, the author of the viral TikTok post, shared her thoughts about what companies like Uber could do to ensure that everyone feels safe.
“I think if Uber offered the option to specifically request a female driver, that could help make some people feel safer. Also ensuring that all of their drivers are background checked and verified for additional security. Requiring all drivers to display a standardized sign on their windshields as well would help riders identify professional Uber drivers,” she told Bored Panda.
We also enquired about the red flags that would give Brenna pause about getting into a vehicle. “If an Uber driver arrives in an unmarked vehicle, I can’t see their license plates, they don’t greet me, and I can’t see their face, or they have child locks engaged on their doors, I immediately cancel the ride,” she said.
Brenna revealed that she’s “not a huge creator on TikTok.” She simply enjoys the app and posts videos “here and there.” She added: “Occasionally they’re popular and go viral!”
You can watch the TikToker’s full video right over here
@brennalina Ladies amirite #lovebeingawoman #fyp ♬ these videos are adorable – 🪶starling
There is a very clear reason why women are leaving their fingerprints and DNA behind in cars: the number of sexual assaults customers have faced is shocking.
According to Uber’s latest safety incident report that covers 2019 and 2020, there have been 3,824 reports of the “five most severe categories of sexual assault” during this time, CNN reports. This number stood at 5,981 in 2017 and 2018.
The report notes that Uber riders were the accused party in sexual assault incident reports 43% of the time in 2019 and 2020. In 2017 and 2018, it was 45%.
“The change in rate of sexual assault reports over time may have been impacted by a number of factors, including how the Covid-19 pandemic altered usage of the platform as well as Uber’s safety and transparency efforts. But each reported incident represents a harrowing lived experience for the survivor. Even one report is one report too many,” Uber wrote.
Though the safety situation is clearly far from resolved, Uber has been making some changes that have improved things, slightly. For example, in 2018, it introduced continuous background checks on drivers. Because of this, over 80k drivers have been removed from the platform due to new criminal offense reports. There’s still a long way to go until everyone using ride-sharing services feels completely safe.
Some safety rules, directly from Uber, include requesting your ride indoors so you spend less time standing outside by yourself. Also, have the driver confirm your name. For instance, you can ask them, ‘Who are you here to pick up?’
Avoid sitting right next to the driver, in the front of the car, so you have more space and can exit the car on either side if need be.
Also, remember to share the details of your trip with your loved ones, like your family members and friends. And above all: follow your intuition. If your gut is telling you something is wrong, it probably is.
As we’ve covered on Bored Panda before, many young women, who are the victims of harassment, tend to blame themselves for what happened. This makes them hesitant to talk about what happened with their loved ones: they’re afraid that their family members, e.g. parents, will blame them.
Something that can help you rebuild a sense of safety in your local area is community. Getting to know the people in your neighborhood, building relationships with them can provide you with a support network when you need help.
Here’s how some women reacted to the video. Some shared their own tips for staying safe when using Uber
Ok I am just spit ballin here, but maybe I mean maybe we should be teaching people not to actually sexually assault women. Giving tips on how not get to assaulted is an insult.
It'd be great if it wasn't necessary but it's not the world we live in. We need to get out of the mentality that preparing ourselves for something bad potentially happening to us is 'victim blaming'.
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This is just plain weird. Why would anyone think this would solve problems? Imagine the sheer amount of DNA on an Uber. Does all that implies assault or murder? If the police has arrived to that specific Uber they already know they drove you. Women need to learn self defense. And share your Uber information with a trusted person
"If the police has arrived to that specific Uber they already know they drove you." Excellent point. Isn't there a record in the app of who picked you up? It should be easy for the police to trace.
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Wouldn’t it be easier to just casually mention your loved one who is monitoring your progress to see when you will arrive?
Or pretend to be on a call the whole time occasionally saying how many minutes until you arrive. Or better yet actually be on a call. If any of my friends or family want to be able to call me for this kind of thing ill be down for it.
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What the ...? Just text your uber info to a friend, if you feel the need. This is riduciulous.
It sucks that women have to think about this every day all day. Everything they do, everywhere they go, everyone they interact with is suspect. Whether it be the Uber driver who tried to assault them, that "cool" male friend who turned into a creep, the s****y male coworkers who ogle them, men in bars, jogging alone, going anywhere alone, having to police what they wear to feel safe. It sucks that we've raised generations of men who think it's okay to abuse women how they see fit. To the women of this world who deal with all this s**t, I salute you. To the s****y men who abuse women, I hope karma eats you from the inside out and you rot in a hole somewhere while rabid racoons feast on your dying body.
I don't use ride-sharing services, nor do I use AirBnbs. There's not enough oversight nor security for me to take those risks to my finances nor my health.
On top of the other many problems with this odd piece of advice, unless you are SURE that you have you have pulled out the hair with the root attached, it's worthless for forensic purposes.
I'm all for being safe but this seems a little overboard. I'm much more comfortable taking an Uber than I was pre smartphones with GPS when I took Yellow Cabs. THOSE were some shady drivers and I knew some of them from bartending! They were never on time, filthy and dispatch was not very helpful. This goes for my area and NYC.
Or take Lyft. They do tougher background checks on drivers (this comes from people who've driven for both) and in my area they're about half the cost on average for the exact same trip.
Uber passengers have all the information they need in determining if their car/driver is correct. Make and model, license plate number and driver picture.. let's face it, you're lazy. Stop spreading the nonsensical advice that it's permissible to demand the name of the passenger from the driver. Uber drivers ONLY have the name of the rider to identify them. If more riders used the 4 digit PIN, there would be less confusion. Goes back to riders just being lazy. Don't leave your DNA in a car. It's disgusting having to clean up after "adults"
I came to say this. My daughter got me a ride from the hospital to my house. I only had my OHIP card on me, no cash, no cards. She sent me his picture, his rating, the picture of his car with the details and his license plate#. When I opened the door he called me by my daughter's name so I got in. While he was working the traffic I asked him if if could wait while I go in the house to get $$$. He said I had already paid. Oh, my daughter paid? Okay, I'm all set. She was following the Uber with her phone so she could tell her dad when to expect me. That was awesome.
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Know what kills me? Everyone thinks it is only women who think about this type of thing. Men do as well you know and yes it does happen to us as well. This will do absolutely nothing to protect you beforehand this might help after if the driver did it but it is unlikely because the driver just has to tell the app he dropped you off some place else. Best bet would be to not use them but that is unfortunately not an option for some.
most of the things she asks uber to do are already done by taxis so just call a cab instead
My thought is that if Uber has gotten this untrustworthy, perhaps you should stop taking it. Is saving some cab fare really worth having to seriously worry about your personal safety?
All licensed taxi drivers (at least in the US) are required to be background-checked and certified by a city's law enforcement bureau. Uber/Lyft drivers are not. Also, the rates are pre-set and metered and they cannot legally refuse a trip, unlike those so-called "services".
Ok I am just spit ballin here, but maybe I mean maybe we should be teaching people not to actually sexually assault women. Giving tips on how not get to assaulted is an insult.
It'd be great if it wasn't necessary but it's not the world we live in. We need to get out of the mentality that preparing ourselves for something bad potentially happening to us is 'victim blaming'.
Load More Replies... This is just plain weird. Why would anyone think this would solve problems? Imagine the sheer amount of DNA on an Uber. Does all that implies assault or murder? If the police has arrived to that specific Uber they already know they drove you. Women need to learn self defense. And share your Uber information with a trusted person
"If the police has arrived to that specific Uber they already know they drove you." Excellent point. Isn't there a record in the app of who picked you up? It should be easy for the police to trace.
Load More Replies... Wouldn’t it be easier to just casually mention your loved one who is monitoring your progress to see when you will arrive?
Or pretend to be on a call the whole time occasionally saying how many minutes until you arrive. Or better yet actually be on a call. If any of my friends or family want to be able to call me for this kind of thing ill be down for it.
Load More Replies... What the ...? Just text your uber info to a friend, if you feel the need. This is riduciulous.
It sucks that women have to think about this every day all day. Everything they do, everywhere they go, everyone they interact with is suspect. Whether it be the Uber driver who tried to assault them, that "cool" male friend who turned into a creep, the s****y male coworkers who ogle them, men in bars, jogging alone, going anywhere alone, having to police what they wear to feel safe. It sucks that we've raised generations of men who think it's okay to abuse women how they see fit. To the women of this world who deal with all this s**t, I salute you. To the s****y men who abuse women, I hope karma eats you from the inside out and you rot in a hole somewhere while rabid racoons feast on your dying body.
I don't use ride-sharing services, nor do I use AirBnbs. There's not enough oversight nor security for me to take those risks to my finances nor my health.
On top of the other many problems with this odd piece of advice, unless you are SURE that you have you have pulled out the hair with the root attached, it's worthless for forensic purposes.
I'm all for being safe but this seems a little overboard. I'm much more comfortable taking an Uber than I was pre smartphones with GPS when I took Yellow Cabs. THOSE were some shady drivers and I knew some of them from bartending! They were never on time, filthy and dispatch was not very helpful. This goes for my area and NYC.
Or take Lyft. They do tougher background checks on drivers (this comes from people who've driven for both) and in my area they're about half the cost on average for the exact same trip.
Uber passengers have all the information they need in determining if their car/driver is correct. Make and model, license plate number and driver picture.. let's face it, you're lazy. Stop spreading the nonsensical advice that it's permissible to demand the name of the passenger from the driver. Uber drivers ONLY have the name of the rider to identify them. If more riders used the 4 digit PIN, there would be less confusion. Goes back to riders just being lazy. Don't leave your DNA in a car. It's disgusting having to clean up after "adults"
I came to say this. My daughter got me a ride from the hospital to my house. I only had my OHIP card on me, no cash, no cards. She sent me his picture, his rating, the picture of his car with the details and his license plate#. When I opened the door he called me by my daughter's name so I got in. While he was working the traffic I asked him if if could wait while I go in the house to get $$$. He said I had already paid. Oh, my daughter paid? Okay, I'm all set. She was following the Uber with her phone so she could tell her dad when to expect me. That was awesome.
Load More Replies... Know what kills me? Everyone thinks it is only women who think about this type of thing. Men do as well you know and yes it does happen to us as well. This will do absolutely nothing to protect you beforehand this might help after if the driver did it but it is unlikely because the driver just has to tell the app he dropped you off some place else. Best bet would be to not use them but that is unfortunately not an option for some.
most of the things she asks uber to do are already done by taxis so just call a cab instead
My thought is that if Uber has gotten this untrustworthy, perhaps you should stop taking it. Is saving some cab fare really worth having to seriously worry about your personal safety?
All licensed taxi drivers (at least in the US) are required to be background-checked and certified by a city's law enforcement bureau. Uber/Lyft drivers are not. Also, the rates are pre-set and metered and they cannot legally refuse a trip, unlike those so-called "services".
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