- Study suggests that fear and anxiety force women to either drive (44%) or to not travel at all (27%)
- Respondents preferred tech which could be enhanced by AI over traditional safety measures such as personal safety alarms
- It highlights the need for women to feel safe if they are to be persuaded to use public transport or ride-sharing services.
A new study by researchers at Aston University suggests that safety fears are preventing women in India using sustainable transport.
In a survey, more than 80% of women stated that they would change their mode of travel if they felt they were in danger during their everyday journeys. The results suggest that women need to feel safer if they are to be persuaded to use public transport, ride-sharing services or other sustainable modes of transport.
The survey is discussed in the paper “Perceptions of Women’s Safety in Transient Environments and the Potential Role of AI in Enhancing Safety: An Inclusive Mobility Study in India” published in the Journal of Sustainability. The researchers aimed to investigate how women’s perception of safety affects their choice of travel mode.
Their results reveal that security and safety were top concerns for 57% and 46% of respondents respectively. Their work highlights the key issue that fear and anxiety force women to either drive (44%) or to not travel at all (27%). The researchers believe that women’s safety perception and feelings of fear undermine attempts to move to greener forms of travel such as public transport or ride-sharing services.
Dr Guilhermina Torrao, a lecturer in transport, led the research. She said: "Our research highlights the problem of gender-based violence and harassment, particularly on public transport, which has a negative impact on women’s travel decisions.
“We believe that this issue must be addressed urgently if women are to be encouraged to leave the car at home and use more sustainable modes of transport such as using public buses.”
The survey also questioned the participants about what they thought would keep them safe. Respondents indicated a preference for more innovative technology which can be optimised with artificial intelligence, such as CCTV, over more traditional measures like personal safety alarms or calling women’s helplines.
In their paper Dr Torrao and her two colleagues Dr Amal Htait and Dr Sylvia Wong refer to examples of AI-based technology as a potential solution to make travelling safer for women in the future. This could include facial recognition to identify known offenders, predicting high-risk areas and times for incidents and plotting safer alternatives routes based on real-time data, to avoid potentially dangerous areas and ensure that the mobility and transport connectivity is safe and inclusive for all the users.
Dr Torrao added: “We believe that policymakers and urban planners need to prioritise the development of gender-sensitive transportation policies that address the specific safety needs of women. Furthermore, exploring AI technology could improve safety measures, enhance public confidence and promote a shift toward more sustainable and inclusive modes of travel. Additionally it will support local governments through the landscape transition to transport decarbonisation and tackle climate change.
"Women’s fear of harassment and violence is not only a significant barrier to mobility, but it also appears to affect the adoption of sustainable transport solutions, contributing to increased car dependency and emissions. Furthermore this study shows that although women are willing to use new forms of mobility such as ride-hailing services, they are not willing to accept ride-sharing services.
“These findings stress the critical need to prompt swift action from policymakers and ride-sourcing providers like Uber and Lyft. Addressing these concerns is essential for creating safer, more sustainable urban transport systems."
This study was supported by the British Council-funded Going Global Partnerships Exploratory Grant and is part of ongoing efforts to better understand how gender impacts travel behaviour and to drive policy changes that promote safer and more equitable mobility solutions. The survey received 51 responses and was disseminated with help from Symbiosis Institute of Technology (SIT) in Pune, India.
Perceptions of Women’s Safety in Transient Environments and the Potential Role of AI in Enhancing Safety: An Inclusive Mobility Study in India. Journal of Sustainability 2024, 16, Published: 5 October 2024
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/19/8631
- Notes to Editors
Torrao, G.; Htait, A.; Wong, S.H.S.
Perceptions of Women’s Safety in Transient Environments and the Potential Role of AI in Enhancing Safety: An Inclusive Mobility Study in India.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/19/8631
Journal of Sustainability 2024, 16, Published: 5 October 2024
doi.org/10.3390/su16198631The SAFER mini-project is part of the British Council funded Going Global Partnerships Exploratory Grant Top-Up project (Ref: 877629610)
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