Safr launched this month and accommodates rides that originate in Boston, Cambridge and Brookline. The service is focused on women and puts the emphasis on safety. Safr does extensive background checks for all drivers, including face-to-face meetings and mentor sessions.

“There is an obvious need for something like this,” PR manager for Safr Joanna Humphrey Flynn said. “I don’t need to talk about the headlines that are out there, and that’s just one of the reasons we created it.”