Uber drivers will be notified about and will have the option to cancel the booking without penalty
Uber is introducing two new safety features in the UK.
Passengers can now record the audio of their journey through the Uber app for “extra peace of mind”. They can activate the feature either before or during a trip.
Uber drivers will be notified about the recording and will have the option to cancel the booking without penalty.
The audio will be encrypted and only accessible to Uber if it is uploaded through the app as part of a safety report. It will then be deleted after two weeks if a report is not made.
Uber is also introducing a verified badge from next week, which will show on the profile of a passenger who has had their personal details cross-checked with third-party databases or has chosen to upload an official identity document and a selfie.
Uber UK general manager Andrew Brem said: “We are always investing in new ways to make journeys even safer. These new safety features provide both riders and drivers with extra peace of mind.
“Riders can record the audio of their journeys securely, and drivers can feel more confident about who is getting in their car.”
Local transport minister Lilian Greenwood said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe when travelling, whether they are a passenger or a driver.
“I welcome Uber taking further steps to strengthen safety on its platform, giving people greater confidence when using private hire services, and showing how technology can help make everyday journeys safer.”
Lucy Duckworth, of the Survivors Trust, which represents rape and sexual abuse support services, said: “We have to create a safety-first culture as a society, where people respect each other and unsafe behaviour is challenged.
“These two new features are a positive step toward giving drivers and riders more confidence on their journey.”
Kola Olalekan, an Uber driver and branch secretary for the GMB union, said: “I’m really glad to know that Uber riders can now be verified, something GMB have been requesting from Uber for a while.
“PHV (private hire vehicle) drivers pick-up passengers from a huge range of areas, at all hours. Seeing a verification badge is going to give me extra confidence and makes me much more likely to accept a booking.”
It comes after Uber customers in eight more UK cities became able to book an electric vehicle earlier this year. Passengers in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Belfast and Merseyside – including Liverpool – can now request a trip in an EV when one is nearby.
Journeys in an electric Uber car cost the same as those in a standard UberX vehicle.
