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New Bill Would Require Cab Drivers To Receive Sexual Assault Prevention Training
By
Miranda Katz
Published Mar 10, 2016
Modified Mar 10, 2016
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By
Miranda Katz
Published Mar 10, 2016
Modified Mar 10, 2016
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2015 saw a rise in reported rapes perpetrated against women in cabs, the NYPD revealed earlier this year, a fact that prompted Commissioner Bill Bratton to suggest that women "adopt the buddy system" when leaving bars at night. Yesterday, two members of the City Council introduced legislation that takes a considerably less victim-blaming approach: if enacted, their bill would require all vehicle-for-hire drivers to undergo sexual assault awareness and prevention training. That includes yellow cabs, green cabs, Uber, and Lyft, among others.
According to the NYPD, 14 out of 166 reported stranger rapes in 2015 took place in such cabs, up from 10 in 2014. Just last week, two women reported sexual assaults in cabs—one in an Uber car in Brooklyn, and one in a taxi in Queens.
"Over the past year, the NYPD reported an increased number of rape cases that occurred in vehicles-for-hire picking up women late at night outside of Manhattan bars," Councilmembers Laurie Cumbo and Helen Rosenthal said in a statement today. "In a city where nearly 500,000 vehicle-for-hire trips are taken daily by New Yorkers and tourists, we must take proactive measures to enhance public safety."
Licensed TLC drivers are currently required to undergo sex trafficking awareness training, which consists of watching a video. It's not yet clear what form this enhanced training will take—the bill says that it could be live instruction, video, or an interactive computer course—but it would include information about the different types of sexual assault, laws against sexual assault, the criminal penalties one can face for sexual assault, and how to recognize and prevent it.
In a statement, TLC spokesperson Allan Fromberg said that "we appreciate the goal of helping our city combat sexual assault, and look forward to discussing the proposed details with the Council." Fromberg did not immediately respond to inquiries about the TLC's current anti-sexual assault trainings, or whether they exist.
Uber spokesperson Alex Anfang said that "Uber is deeply committed to the safety of the riders and drivers using its platform and we support including this course in the extensive training currently required to become a licensed for-hire vehicle driver." It appears that Uber does not currently provide any anti-sexual assault training for drivers in NYC, but rather defers to the TLC.
On a national level, Uber is currently being sued by two women who were assaulted by drivers and are alleging, among other things, that the company does not adequately conduct background checks. And a data dump acquired by Buzzfeed last week suggested that instances of sexual assault in Uber vehicles might be more prevalent than the company would like people to believe. Lyft didn't respond to request for comment.
In a statement, executive director of the NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault Mary Haviland said she was pleased that the bill focuses on prevention, as "the ultimate goal of prevention is to shift of the social norms that perpetuate sexual violence."
Tagged
cab
City Council
helen rosenthal
laurie cumbo
lyft
sexual assault
taxi
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yellow cab
Miranda Katz
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