For a long time, concerns have been raised about the safety of women traveling alone in cabs. To address this issue, the central government has taken an important step.
App-based cab services such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido have been instructed to allow female passengers to choose a female driver while booking their ride.
The government believes this option will make travel safer and more comfortable for women.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, this option will be available only if female drivers are present in that area.
The feature will depend completely on availability. However, wherever possible, women will be given the freedom to select a female driver. This is seen as a major safety measure, especially for women traveling alone during late hours.
New Instructions Issued to States
The central government has asked all states to implement these new rules for app-based cab services. However, no specific deadline has been announced for their implementation.
Earlier, in July 2025, the government had released basic guidelines for motor vehicle aggregators and gave states three months to enforce them.
The new safety-related provision for women is being treated as an important addition to those guidelines.
Changes in Driver Tipping Rules
The government has also made changes to the rules related to driver tips. Passengers will now be able to tip drivers voluntarily after completing their trip.
Tipping will not be included in the booking amount or fare and will remain completely optional. The tipping option will appear in the app only after the ride has ended.
Drivers to Receive the Full Tip Amount
The government has clearly stated that drivers will receive the full amount of any tips given by passengers. Cab companies will not have any share in these tips.
This step aims to bring more transparency to drivers’ earnings and provide them with better motivation and incentives.
