In what’s been called a “first-of-its-kind” initiative, Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. today announced that they will now start sharing data on banned drivers to improve safety.

The two companies had come under scrutiny in the past for not doing enough to ensure passengers are safe from violent acts such as sexual assault. In its first-ever safety report, Uber revealed a shocking fact: In 2018, there were 3,045 sexual assaults in its cars, nine people were murdered and there were 235 were rapes.

Uber has been quick to add that while the numbers don’t exactly instill confidence, “99.9% of all Uber trips result in no safety-related reports at all.” Lyft’s safety record is also something that has come under scrutiny, although the company hasn’t yet released its own safety report.

Both companies have implemented measures to prevent such things from happening in their cars, such as emergency buttons on the apps and recurring background checks. With this new measure, drivers won’t be able to switch companies after they’ve been banned for serious wrongdoing.

The initiative, called the “Industry Sharing Safety Program,” will take place only in the U.S. for now. The driver deactivations that the two companies will share information about relate to the five most critical safety issues within the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Taxonomy. Information about physical assault fatalities will also be shared.

In a press release, Uber said that down the line the program will be open to other transportation and delivery companies in the U.S. It said that if other companies get on board, the program will be “much more effective.”

“Safety should never be proprietary,” said Tony West, senior vice president and chief legal officer at Uber. “You should be safe no matter what ride sharing platform you choose. We’re thrilled to come together with Lyft to improve safety for the entire industry.”

Jennifer Brandenburger, Lyft’s head of policy development, said that though sexual assaults result in a ban from the company, they often don’t lead to an arrest and conviction. Therefore, the assailants won’t show up in a background check and thus can switch who they work for. “With the Industry Sharing Safety Program, Lyft and Uber are working together to further enhance our screening capabilities, as well as the safety of the entire rideshare industry,” she said.

The program has been applauded by critics, although some have said such it should have been created sooner. “By putting aside competition, they are placing users first and building a safer rideshare community for all,” said Scott Berkowitz, founder and president of the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.

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