India, Aug. 19 -- A few weeks ago, a cab driver was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman after an argument over extra fare. In Hyderabad, a 25-year-old German woman was harassed on her way to the airport in April. A cab driver was booked in Bengaluru for assaulting a passenger and his family over a seemingly trivial disagreement.

Every few days, troubling headlines from across India tell a familiar story - a cab ride that turns into a nightmare. The incidents are recurring, span cities, involve both men and women, and cut across backgrounds, making it clear that cab passenger safety is not a local issue but a national one.

Although ride-hailing services disrupted the traditional cab industry with promises of convenience, transparen...