Popular ride-sharing app Uber on Thursday launched a new "Verify Your Ride" feature designed to ensure passengers always get the right vehicle when looking for a ride share. This feature complements the many other safety features introduced in the announcement, all of which are designed to make the passenger experience not only safer, but also more efficient.
If you've ever tried to find an Uber after an event or in a busy area, you know that getting into the wrong car is all too common. When four sedans all look the same, all have lights flashing, and all are waiting for passengers on the same street corner, you have to make sure to pay special attention to the license plate displayed on the app to make sure you find your car. If you misread your license plate, or even just make a mistake, you could end up getting into the wrong car, which could result in liability for both passengers and driver. To make the process of finding a car easier and more reliable, Uber has introduced ride verification, adding another layer of protection for those who use the app to ride and drive.
To be absolutely sure you're getting into the car you ordered, you can now choose to receive a unique four-digit PIN when you ride. When your car arrives, you must provide this PIN verbally to the driver, who must then enter this PIN into the app on their phone. Only after entering the correct PIN code can the driver's and passenger's mobile phones start the journey. If the PIN is entered incorrectly, the ride will not start and the driver will not receive directions and instructions for your drop off.
Another groundbreaking new feature the company is rolling out is a "Text to 911" option in select cities and countries. While there's been a panic button in the app to connect directly to 911 since last year, this new option will allow riders to connect to 911 via text if they're riding in a city or country that supports 911 text technology. According to the FCC, several U.S. states. ) As for how it works: Uber will automatically draft a text message that includes trip details, car make and model, license plate, and location so 911 operators can respond quickly—all you have to do is click a button. No one will know that you have asked for help except the authorities themselves.
Likewise, you'll soon be able to file a "trip report" if something else arises while you're traveling that's not exactly an emergency. While you'll need to contact 911 to resolve any life-threatening or dangerous safety issues, you'll soon see a "Report a Safety Incident" button in your safety toolkit. This new feature will allow you to report safety issues while traveling, rather than after the trip is over (which was the only way before). Uber's safety team will follow up with you and your report after the ride is safe to do so.
While riders and drivers should still always exercise a high degree of caution when using any ride-sharing platform, thankfully, technology updates like these can make things safer for everyone.
