The app-based ride sharing company Uber has urged both its users, and drivers (or riders) to utilize the in-app safety features available on the Uber app to ensure a safe trip.
Uber’s safety team discussed the various safety features available before, during, and after an Uber ride in a roundtable with journalists to promote the company’s recent safety campaign at a Dhaka hotel on Thursday.
Uber updated several features on its app to prioritize safety, and make it more accessible over the years, such as helping people avoid drunk driving, tracking every trip with GPS, 24/7 in-app feedback, among others.
In a presentation, Sneha Dev and Barnali Das, safety communications officials of Uber talked about their safety features.
According to the officials, Uber invested a lot of money to ensure the safety of its users. However, response from users showed that many do not utilize this feature. So, the organization wants to make the users aware of what they are doing to ensure safety.
The safety features of Uber are as follows:
24-hour service
The Uber app allows one to call a ride when you are ready, and lets you know when it arrives, so you do not have to stand on the street while you wait. All trips are GPS-tracked, and one can see the route and your car’s real time location clearly marked on the app throughout your journey.
Rider Safety Toolkit
By tapping on the shield icon, located on the home screen of the app, users can reach the Safety Toolkit, and learn all about Uber’s insurance coverage, and community guidelines. In the unlikely event of an emergency, the emergency button will connect the user to the law enforcement.
VoIP phone call
Uber’s new voice over IP (VoIP) feature allows users, and drivers to make free anonymous calls to each other through the Uber app. VoIP on Uber makes a voice call over the internet rather than via cellular service.
Driver profiles
When a user books a trip, the Uber app sends them details of the driver, and the vehicle. These include vehicle make, colour, and licence plate number, as well as the driver’s name, rating, and feedback from other users.
Checking the ride
Additionally, users are reminded to match the car make, number, and driver photo provided in the app against the actual one before every trip.
24-hour in-app support
Uber has invested in a 24/7 Incident Response Team (IRT) to respond to any incident reported to Uber. It also has a police liaison team that includes former law enforcement staff who work directly with the local police to assist in their investigations.
Ratings and feedback
Uber urges both users, and drivers to rate each other after a trip, and leave a feedback. All negative feedback is acted on, while all positive feedback helps improve Uber’s experience for all. If a rider or driver is rated below Uber’s standard, he or she would be expelled from Uber.
