Female-only ride-hail app to launch in Australia
SheSafe, a women-only ride-sharing app has launched in Melbourne. Creator, Emma Buchanan, says that women and young girls should not feel unsafe when travelling in a taxi. Outraged by male-on-female assault statistics among Uber drivers, she founded the service to give women and young girls a choice other than travelling in a potentially dangerous environment. SheSafe requires its female drivers to undergo strict background checks from police, character references, certification to prove that they can work with children safely, and phone interviews.

A women-only ride sharing app will launch in cities around Australia in coming months and hopes to make sure their customers feel comfortable and safe.

The SheSafe app is Australia's version of Uber will start driving female passengers and boys under 12 years old in Melbourne next month.

Emma Buchanan, founder of the app, said women and young girls should not feel scared about getting into a car and travelling.

Emma Buchanan, founder of the SheSafe app hopes it will offer female passengers safety and peace of mind when getting into a strangers car

Ms Buchanan told Daily Mail Australia SheSafe will have similar price point in terms of costing.

Currently, an Uber ride from Melbourne CBD to the suburb of St Kilda costs a passenger between $12 to $17.

She said the statistics of assaults by male drivers on female passengers 'absolutely staggering' and added that many have gone unreported.

'It was really time the ride sharing industry offered this. The app is giving women and young girls a choice,' she said

Ms Buchanan said there was a need in the market for a female only ride sharing service.

Ms Buchanan said the idea for the app came to her in a cafe when she overheard two mothers unhappy about their daughters taking Ubers and taxis late at night.

After doing research and speaking to women, she found many women and mothers were concerned for safety and had even made complaints about their drivers.

The idea for the app came to her in a cafe when she overheard two mothers unhappy about their daughters taking Ubers and taxis late at night (stock image)

To ensure women are safe, SheSafe requires the women who want to be drivers to go through strict background checks from police, character references, a working with children certificate and phone interviews.

She hopes the SheSafe app will offer female passengers safety and peace of mind when getting into a stranger's car.

Perth Taxi Group spokesman Athen Tsirigotis said taxi drivers would be affected the female-only service in a report by WA Today.

But Mr Tsirigotis added: 'If there is a demand for women-only ride sharing services and if there's a demographic it can serve, then so be it.'

Meanwhile an Uber spokesman told the website they welcomed competition and choice for customers, and they would continue to focus on providing a good service for their customers.