Drew Wilson
Uber has added another safety feature for riders and drivers.
The ridesharing company announced Tuesday that it will use GPS technology to detect if something, such as a crash, happens during a trip.
The feature, “RideCheck,” has been in the pilot phase for the past year but is now up and running nationwide.
Uber said “when a RideCheck is initiated, both a rider and driver will receive a notification asking if everything is OK and surfacing options for assistance.”
If all is well, drivers and passengers can close out the check. If it’s not, the feature will present other options, such as calling 911 or making a report through Uber’s Safety Line.
“This technology will continue to evolve, and we are working to add additional scenarios to RideCheck. Helping keep millions of riders and drivers around the world safe is a huge responsibility with unique challenges,” wrote Sachin Kansal, Uber’s Head of Safety Products.
“While I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, when it comes to safety, we know our work is never done.”
RideCheck is just the latest safety feature added to the platform.
A year ago, Uber added an “emergency button” to the app in some areas, including Pinellas County. The feature has since been implemented nationwide.
A video explaining how RideCheck works is below.
