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What if you could choose who picks you up on a ride share app before you even step into the car
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Uber is making that a reality for women riders, rolling out a new feature that puts more control in their hands
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It's called the women preference option and it lets riders request a woman driver right in the app
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The pilot program is launching in Los Angeles, Detroit and San Francisco in the coming weeks
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Riders can schedule rides in advance, set preferences to boost their chances of getting a woman driver, and customize settings to fit their comfort level
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Women drivers can opt in too, changing their settings to accept rides from women riders only
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Uber says this feature took time to get right, tested and refined in countries like Germany and France
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Globally, it's already been used for over 100 million trips. This announcement comes as Uber faces a class action lawsuit from riders in at least 29 states claiming the company failed to prevent sexual assault
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Allegations range from groping to rape, all involving riders who say they were assaulted by drivers
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Uber says all drivers undergo background checks and annual re-screenings. With the new feature, Uber says it's taking a step toward giving riders more control and making trips safer for everyone
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Find the full story right now by downloading the Straight Arrow News mobile app or head to san.com
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For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey
