How Grab’s KartaDashcam is safeguarding women driver-partners

Grab Sustainability, Platform Safety, and IoT Teams

. July 22, 2026 . Regional

When 48-year-old Noorlaela Hendrawati lost her job, she turned to Grab to support her family. Balancing household chores during the day, she often ended up picking up passengers late into the night.

Navigating Indonesia’s roads after dark used to make her feel uneasy. Lately, though, Noorlaela is a lot more comfortable. Mounted on her windshield is a smart device that acts like a silent bodyguard—Grab’s KartaDashcam.

“I usually take rides from the evening until midnight,” Noorlaela says. “Having KartaDashcam in the car makes me feel safe and protected. I don’t have to worry anymore if I get a difficult customer.”

In early 2026 Grab began a complimentary rollout of 1,000 KartaDashcams to women driver-partners across Southeast Asia, as part of our effort to bring more women into the digital economy. According to the 2026 Women in the Driver’s Seat report co-authored by UN Global Compact Network Singapore, Kantar, and Grab, over 40 million prospective women drivers are eager to work as ride-hailing and delivery driver-partners, but some feel held back due to safety concerns. Those are real opportunities left on the table.

Women face unique challenges behind the wheel

While safety matters for everyone, Grab’s own data highlights a clear gap: women drivers face a disproportionately higher risk of incidents on the road, particularly harassment from passengers and other drivers.

We want to address this problem with measures that go above and beyond standard safety features.

How the KartaDashcam works

In case of an emergency, the driver can alert Grab’s Safety Incident Response Team (IRT) with a press of the SOS button until the camera makes a “beep” sound. An emergency report is sent to the Grab-IRT for immediate assistance and is available 24/7. The Grab-IRT will also immediately receive video footage from the KartaDashcam which helps assess the situation visually.
KartaDashcam captures road footage and (in some markets) it also records audio and video of what’s going on inside the vehicle based on Passenger consent
The outward-facing camera starts recording the moment the car turns on, so drivers don’t have to remember to record. It automatically saves footage when it detects an incident.

With KartaDashcam, our drivers are kept safe and protected. Beyond the SOS button for emergencies, the dashcam’s visible presence on board acts as a visual deterrent, making passengers less likely to misbehave when they know they are being watched. It stores a detailed digital track record of any incidents that might occur on the road—whether that’s a collision or inappropriate behaviours—the camera stores material that can be used as evidence during conflict resolution.

Stories from women behind the wheel

The true value of the KartaDashcam is best understood through the eyes of the women who rely on it every day.

Imelda Goduco Mendoza (Philippines)

At 56, Imelda Goduco Mendoza values the independence that driving for Grab provides. While she loves the freedom of being her own boss and chasing high-booking periods, dealing with the occasional difficult passenger is a reality of the job. Just like Noorlaela, Imelda enjoys the comfort of knowing that the KartaDashcam keeps a record that can help settle disputes if necessary.

“I feel much more confident now,” Imelda explains. “With Grab’s AudioProtect combined with the KartaDashcam, it is far more comfortable for the driver. Since we sometimes encounter difficult passengers who might misrepresent the facts, these safety features ensure that the truth is preserved.”

Maria Cyrill Lucindo Maloles (Philippines)

47-year old Maria Cyrill Lucindo Maloles, who has been driving for Grab since 2023 in Quezon City, highlights how being able to rely on Grab’s emergency response team gives her peace of mind.

“I feel more secure driving on the Grab platform because of its integrated safety features, specifically the SOS button,” she shares. “In the event of an accident, I can get help immediately, unlike with a standard dashcam.”

Rajeswary A/P Kalahaarison (Malaysia)

Born in 1995, Rajeswary is one of Grab’s newer driver-partners, having signed up in March 2026 to secure a side income while finishing her studies. For younger women entering the platform, navigating busy roads and managing diverse passengers can be intimidating. The simplicity of the KartaDashcam lowered those barriers immediately.

“My experience with KartaDashcam has been positive. The recording quality is clear, especially during the day, and the installation process was easy. I really like the automatic recording feature, which gives me a greater sense of security while driving,” says Rajeswary.

I really like the automatic recording feature, which gives me a greater sense of security while driving.

Rajeswary A/P Kalahaarison (Malaysia), Grab driver-partner

KartaDashcam: The future of partner safety

The complimentary KartaDashcam roll-out to Grab’s women driver-partners is part of a much bigger journey.

We already have approximately 20,000 KartaDashcam devices deployed across Southeast Asia, and they’re used daily by Grab’s driver-partners who value the safety features which KartaDashcam offers, all in addition to features such as smart driving assistance and accurate navigation with GrabNav.

We’re gathering real-world feedback from the driver-partners using the KartaDashcam today—including women like Noorlaela, Rajeswary, and Imelda — using their firsthand insights to improve future hardware and software updates.By refining this technology through the lens of our female drivers, we’re building a safer, more equitable ecosystem — ensuring that safety concerns never stand in the way of financial independence for women across the region.

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