Stories
NCW Issues Strict Safety Guidelines for App-Based Cabs and Transport to Protect Women
- •The National Commission for Women has issued comprehensive safety guidelines to states and union territories for women traveling in app-based cabs, autos, and bike taxis.
- •New rules require mandatory driver and vehicle identity matching, offering women free ride cancellations if details mismatch at pickup.
- •App-based companies must conduct thorough police verifications, criminal background checks, and gender sensitization training for all drivers.
- •Guidelines mandate the installation of a physical SOS button in cabs with a 60-second response time from command centers to share live locations during emergencies.
- •A dedicated grievance mechanism requires complaints to be acknowledged within 2 hours and resolved within 72 hours, with electronic records preserved for 180 days.
Key Questions Answered
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued safety guidelines to states and union territories for app-based cabs, autos, bike taxis, and other digital transport services to ensure women's security from journey start to destination.
App information about the driver and vehicle must be accurate, and if details mismatch the person at the spot, female passengers can cancel the ride without charges. Companies must also conduct background checks, police verification, and criminal record checks before hiring drivers.
The guidelines recommend installing a physical SOS button linked to a 24x7 command center responding within 60 seconds. Additionally, apps must detect unauthorized route deviations and trigger immediate alerts to the passenger and company.
