Uber launches feature to help riders verify drivers
Uber is launching a new pilot program to help ensure the safety of riders and drivers.
The new program will give users the option to have a four-digit verification code to provide their driver before starting a trip, according to a news release. This extra level of verification will help to ensure that drivers are picking up the correct riders.
This pilot program was introduced in San Francisco, and Phoenix is one of seven cities to be included in the program, the press release said. Many users will be able to add this feature in the settings of their app beginning Tuesday, and by the end of the week all users will have the option for this feature.
“We are constantly working and innovating to provide riders and drivers with the tools they need to help ensure a safe and reliable experience,” said Sachin Kansal, Uber’s head of Safety Prodwill ucts in a news release. She said the new feature will give riders "peace of mind" that they are getting in the right vehicle.
To allow this feature, riders need to go into their settings and tap "Verifying Your Ride." From there, riders have the option to have the code for all rides or only at night, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., the news release said.
Once the feature is enabled, riders
be given a four-digit code in the app while their driver is en route. When the driver arrives, riders will need to verbally give the driver the code and they must enter the correct code in their app in order to begin the ride, according to the news release.
The driver is not given the code, only the rider is, so the ride cannot be started until the correct code is entered, said Andrew Hasbun, a spokesman for Uber.
Uber included a video in its press release showing what the new feature looks like for riders and drivers.
This new safety feature is being introduced just a week after Uber released a safety report for the first time showing that over the course of 2017 and 2018, the company received 5,981 allegations of sexual assault in the U.S.
The company also included other features their app has to ensure safety in the report. There is an option to directly call 911 from the app and the rider's live location and trip details will be shared directly with dispatchers. Details
on the car's make, model and type are also provided digitally to dispatchers so that the rider does not need to verbally speak with anyone on the phone while in the car.
The app also includes a RideCheck feature by using GPS data, the feature can see if the trip has gone off-route or if a possible crash has occurred. If Uber notices anything out of the ordinary, they will provide riders with tools needed to get help.
Uber support is available 24/7 for riders and drivers to report any safety concerns.
There are many different steps a rider can take to ensure safety , including checking the license plate of the car, verifying the driver's photo and name before entering the vehicle and sharing the route with a friend or family member.