Uber introduces new features to elevate safety; here's all you need to know

Uber on Wednesday unveiled a suite of features aimed at enhancing the safety of its riders in India with a special focus on female riders and drivers The company has announced Audio Recording and Women Rider Preferred to offer increased safety on Uber tripsPartnering with Bengalurubased NGO Durga Uber is also stepping up efforts to sensitize drivers on appropriate conduct especially with regards to women riders With the launch of lsquoSafety Preferencesrsquo Uber riders can now customize safety features like RideCheck Share My Trip and Audio Recording to activate automatically on every Uber tripThese features are the latest in Uberrsquos efforts to make riders and drivers feel safe during every ride The company continues to utilize a mix of technological expertise and innovations to ensure that riding with Uber is safe seamless and hasslefree As per the 2024 India Economic Impact Report compiled by Public First 9537 of female riders cited safety as their top reason for using Uber 8437 of female riders believed that taking an Uber was the safest way to get homeSooraj Nair Head Safety Operations Uber India amp South Asia said ldquoWe believe that our work on safety never stops Wersquove continually innovated to lead the industry on safety and enhance the overall experience on every Uber trip Whether itrsquos through techdriven solutions like SOS integration and Women Rider Preference or through initiatives such as gender sensitization we remain focussed on building a platform that riders and drivers can trust every time they choose UberKey safety featuresSOS integrationThis feature ensures quick emergency assistance by allowing riders and drivers to share live location and trip details directly with police during critical situationsThis feature is designed to provide immediate support when every second countsThe feature is live in TelanganaUber has completed testing in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and is set to roll out as the State Police greenlights the collaborationWomen Rider Preference IndustryfirstFemale drivers now have the option to choose to accept only female riders a feature that is particularly useful during late hoursIntroduced based on driver feedback this optional feature has already enabled over 21000 tripsIt helps female earners prioritise their safety drive for longer hours and boost their earningsAudio recording IndustryfirstRiders can now record audio if they feel uncomfortable or concerned about their safety during tripsThe encrypted recordings are not accessible to the rider ensuring privacyUber does not access the audio unless the rider chooses to submit it as part of a safety reportThis feature compliant with Indiarsquos oneparty consent law is available nationwide for riders and driversGender sensitisationUber has partnered with Durga a Bengalurubased NGO dedicated to promoting gender equity and safetyThis partnership will include virtual sessions for drivers to understand and address the unique safety concerns of women riders fostering a safer and more respectful experience for allThe company has also bolstered existing features to boost womens safety on the platformUberrsquos techenabled RideCheck detects irregularities such as route deviations or long stops prompting a proactive checkin with riders and driversThe 24x7 Safety Line offers roundtheclock access to safety experts for urgent but nonemergency issues during and after tripsAdditionally phone and address anonymization ensures privacy by concealing personal contact details and trip locations protecting both riders and driversWith Uberrsquos new feature lsquoSafety Preferencesrsquo riders can now automatically activate techdriven safety features on every tripThe feature allows riders to customize their safety settings for added peace of mind From automatically sharing trip details with trusted contacts to enabling audio recording and RideCheck alerts riders can tailor safety features to activate based on time or locationmdashsuch as latenight trips or rides from specific areasThis onestop destination within the app ensures a safer and more personalized experience for every tripThese initiatives reinforce Uberrsquos dedication to enhanced safety through the use of technology and collaboration with experts