Ireland's first women-focused taxi service is set to launch in Dublin this month, giving women the option of choosing a female driver.
LadyCab says it will offer safer journeys for women who can use its app to request a female driver.
Founder Emanuela Negura said she was determined to make a change in the industry after experiencing first-hand "the dangers" of the capital's nightlife.
"I was attacked on a Saturday night last year in July in the city centre by a male passenger, who tried to get in my car," Ms Negura said.
"I was parked. He tried to get in, but luckily the door was locked. He tried to smash my window. He grabbed me by the neck and he hit me.
"It was not even dark. I realised we are so exposed as taxi drivers to the dangers of Dublin’s nightlife.
"I just realised how badly-needed this service is."
"I had three taxi drivers behind me... nobody jumped to help me.
"There’s no support. Because you have no support, you know if something goes wrong, you are on your own."
She said she wanted to "do something about this".
Ms Negura said LadyCab will have an "enhanced system" to elevate safety for both drivers and passengers.
"I just think it’s time that we have a service that allows us to work in peace in this beautiful town."
Ms Negura was also inspired by the conversations she heard from the backseat of her own taxi over the last two years.
Ms Negura said her passengers were "relieved" to be picked up by a female taxi driver.
"I just realised how badly-needed this service is."
Women 'don’t feel comfortable to go out’
The taxi driver said some female passengers "avoid coming to Dublin" and "don’t feel comfortable" going out because they are worried about their safety.
The company’s tagline of "every woman deserves to get home safe" quickly struck a chord online.
Since posting on TikTok, Ms Negura has received direct messages from women around the country who have had negative experiences in taxis, ranging from inappropriate comments to sexual assault.
She said some women said they were asked personal questions by taxi drivers, "Like 'Do you have a boyfriend?', 'Do you live alone?".
"This is the last thing you want to experience on your way home at 3am in the morning.
"I just think we deserve better.
"In 2025, not feeling comfortable to go out in your own town is just unacceptable."
Women ‘reluctant’ to join taxi industry
Ms Negura wants to create a community of female drivers, who she said are "reluctant" to join the industry and to work at night because of perceived dangers.
It comes after a recent survey by FreeNow found that 31% of taxi drivers feel unsafe while working, with a third of drivers reporting they feel less safe than a year ago.
Some 64% said they have ended shifts early because of safety fears.
"Nightlife in Dublin has its pluses and its minuses," explained Ms Negura.
"You could get passengers that are aggressive to you, verbally or physically.
"This is the main challenge that the industry has and it’s why female drivers are reluctant.
"How do you manage an incident?" she asked. "How do you manage an abuse towards you as a female driver?"
Svetlana Onofras is one of the taxi drivers who has signed up to join LadyCab.
She said she tries to pick up female passengers while driving at night.
"Then they feel safe with me and I feel safe with them," added Ms Onofras.
She also said some of her male passengers have made inappropriate comments that made her feel unsafe.
LadyCab's founder also expressed concern that the number of women working in the taxi industry is not recorded by the National Transport Authority (NTA), making it hard to see the gender imbalance.
Ms Negura has already received pre-bookings from parents, who said the service would bring them "peace of mind".
"'No more late rides for me to collect my kids', basically, that was the message," she said.
LadyCab hopes to expand to cities around Ireland and follow the example set in other European countries.
In a statement, the NTA said it undertakes regular surveys of taxi passengers to gain insight into their journey experiences.
Its latest survey, carried out in March 2024, found that 71% felt safer travelling home by taxi after a night out, 94% felt safe when hailing a taxi on street and 93% felt safe while waiting at the rank for a taxi.
It said complaints including driver conduct, overcharging and vehicle conditions can be made to NTA.
However, it stressed it has no role in relation to criminal matters.
"Should passengers or drivers wish to make a report in relation to potentially criminal matters, these should be referred directly to An Garda Síochána," the NTA said.
