Uber just announced an expansion of driver-focused safety features, including a national rollout improved driver verificationwill start tomorrow. If a driver passes these extra verification steps, they’ll get an “Approved” badge on their account, letting drivers know everything is on the up and up.
The company said it developed these new screening measures “in response to feedback from drivers who want to know more about who’s getting into their car.” The company began testing the feature earlier this year, and it must have been a success, as it’s being rolled out nationally. Lyft has its own version of this tool, though still being tested in select markets.
Although Uber also accepts official government IDs, it verifies drivers by cross-checking account information against a third-party database. The app will also allow users to import their own approval status From the CLEAR program.
While Rider ID is the most notable safety tool announced, Uber is also rolling out Record My Ride nationwide. another successful beta test. This allows drivers to record the entire ride through smartphone cameras without investing in a camera. The footage is fully encrypted, Uber says, so no one can access it unless the driver sends it for review. The company hopes this will allow it to “resolve any incidents that may arise more quickly and fairly.”
Drivers can now cancel any trip without financial penalty and “equalize” with any driver they don’t feel comfortable taking. Finally, there’s a new PIN verification feature where drivers can be prompted to enter a number to confirm that they are, in fact, the correct guest.
Uber tends to concentrate its resources about riders over ridersso it’s a nice change of pace. However, it’s kind of a bummer that drivers need such an advanced inspection system to root out some of the bad apples and get on with their business. In other words, don’t have fun during your next Uber ride.
Correction, September 17, 2024, 10:45 a.m. ET: This story and its headline originally reported that Uber’s driver verification program was rolling out nationwide starting today. The giveaway will start tomorrow, September 18. Sorry for the error.
