Uber Introduces New Safety Features, Including Ride Audio Recording

Uber Enhances Rider and Driver Safety with New Features

Uber is implementing a suite of new safety enhancements within its application. These include an audio prompt reminding passengers to utilize seat belts, the ability for both riders and drivers to record audio during trips, and a system for identifying unexpected deviations from planned routes or premature trip conclusions.

Seat Belt Reminders and Awareness

Acknowledging that rear-seat passengers often neglect seat belt usage, particularly on shorter journeys, Uber is introducing an audio reminder. Kristin Smith, Uber’s road safety public policy manager, explained to TechCrunch that this feature aims to reinforce the importance of seat belt use for all occupants. This initiative builds upon existing seat belt awareness campaigns, such as the ‘Make It Click’ Campaign in partnership with GHSA.

The seat belt reminder will initially be available to select users this month, with a nationwide rollout planned for early next year. The impetus for this feature stemmed from driver feedback regarding responsibility for potential fines, as well as recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicating a rise in traffic fatalities despite reduced driving in 2020.

In-App Audio Recording for Enhanced Security

Following a successful two-year trial in Latin America, Uber will launch an audio recording feature in the U.S. next week, beginning as a pilot program in Kansas City, Louisville, and Raleigh-Durham. Riders and drivers can activate audio recording via the shield icon on the map screen, selecting the “Record Audio” option.

Privacy is a key component of this feature. All audio files are encrypted and stored locally on the user’s device, inaccessible to Uber. However, users can attach recordings to safety reports, allowing trained Uber safety agents to review the audio as evidence following decryption.

RideCheck Enhancements and Route Monitoring

Uber is also expanding its RideCheck feature, initially introduced in 2019 to detect potential crashes or prolonged stops. The updated RideCheck now identifies trips that end prematurely or deviate from the intended route.

When unusual activity is detected, both the rider and driver will receive a notification, prompting them to confirm their well-being or utilize emergency features like the emergency button or safety reporting tools.

Legal Challenges and Safety Concerns

These updates arrive amidst ongoing legal challenges. Dozens of women have filed lawsuits against Uber alleging sexual assault by drivers across multiple states. While Uber and Lyft have previously faced similar claims, these cases have often resulted in settlements or dismissals, with the companies denying liability.

Current lawsuits allege negligence, claiming Uber was aware of the risk of driver-perpetrated assaults and failed to implement adequate preventative measures, despite advertising safe rides. Some claims invoke “common carrier” negligence, asserting Uber’s legal classification as a transportation provider necessitates a higher duty of care. Product liability claims also argue that the Uber app itself is unsafe.

Strategic Implementation and Transparency Reports

The introduction of these new safety features, particularly audio recording and RideCheck updates, may be a proactive measure by Uber in response to these legal proceedings. Uber declined to comment on the lawsuits, highlighting the existing presence of the audio recording feature in 14 Latin American countries since 2019, where surveys indicated increased rider and driver safety perceptions.

In 2019, Uber’s safety transparency report revealed nearly 6,000 reports of sexual assault on its platform in 2017 and 2018. While Uber emphasized the rarity of safety incidents – with 99.9% of trips completing without incident – the report triggered an investigation by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

The CPUC subsequently fined Uber $150,000 for withholding data related to sexual assault cases and mandated a $9 million payment towards addressing violence in the state. The CPUC sought detailed incident information, including date, time, and location, data that Uber’s GPS capabilities and the new safety features could potentially provide.

Future Development and Ongoing Commitment

An Uber spokesperson stated to TechCrunch that the enhancements to RideCheck were not prompted by any specific event, but rather represent the ongoing integration of new technologies and the return of riders.

These updates demonstrate Uber’s continued efforts to prioritize the safety of both riders and drivers on its platform.