Lyft and Uber have announced that they will cover the legal fees of their drivers if they are sued under Texas' controversial new abortion law.
As reported by CBS News, the state's new legislation prohibits abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, and anyone who aids an individual in obtaining a termination - including driving them to a clinic - can be sued and slapped with a fine of over $10,000.
It is around the six-week mark that cardiac activity can usually be detected. However, the restrictive law has sparked outrage among pro-choice campaigners.
Lyft's co-founders said in a statement: "This law is incompatible with people's basic rights to privacy, our community guidelines, the spirit of rideshare, and our values as a company."
The statement continued: "Lyft has created a Driver Legal Defense Fund to cover 100% of legal fees for drivers sued under SB8 while driving on our platform. Riders and Drivers: Nothing about how you drive, ride or interact with each other should change."
It referred to the new legislation as "an attack on women’s right to choose", adding that the company will be donating $1 million to Planned Parenthood to "help ensure that transportation is never a barrier to healthcare access."
Lyft added in its statement: "Imagine being a pregnant woman trying to get to a healthcare appointment and not knowing if your driver will cancel on you for fear of breaking a law."
Taking to his personal Twitter, the ridesharing company's CEO, Logan Green, slammed the law, which went into effect on Tuesday, August 31, writing: "[The Texas law] threatens to punish drivers for getting people where they need to go— especially women exercising their right to choose.
"@Lyft has created a Driver Legal Defense Fund to cover 100% of legal fees for drivers sued under SB8 while driving on our platform."
Sharing a statement of his own on Twitter, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi agreed that "drivers shouldn't be put at risk for getting people where they want to go."
He added: "Team @Uber is in too and will cover legal fees in the same way. Thanks for the push."
