Ride-Hailing App For Women Coming To DC: Report

WASHINGTON, DC -- Soon, D.C.-area women will be able to hail rides with an app meant just for them, according to a report.

DCist reports that Safr, which launched in Boston last year, will begin rolling out in D.C. as well as Maryland and Virginia at some point this year.

Safr aims to make ride-sharing safer for women. While it doesn't ban men from using the service, it does allow users to pick a gender preference for their driver, or vice versa.

Safr says they do extensive hiring and background checks, and they pay their drivers more money than Uber and Lyft -- although that typically means it charges higher fares, according to the report.

Safr has a "color-matching" feature where both the driver and rider are assigned a color, which must be verified before the ride begins. The app also has an "SOS" button in case of emergencies.

(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)