Science

Uber to let US riders 'favorite' preferred drivers in effort to boost safety and appease employees


Uber will let California riders pick their preferred drivers in an effort to boost ride safety after multiple assault claims from female customers

  • Uber will start allowing riders to select their favorite drivers for trips in the US
  • The feature lets users bookmark drivers and is designed to bolster safety
  • A favorite driver feature was rolled out to UK riders in June 

Uber will soon let riders repeat trips with drivers they know and trust.

The company says it plans to roll out a new feature that allows users in California to ‘favorite’ drivers they like so they can select their services for future trips.

According to Uber, the feature will be rolled out initially in California, ‘early 2020,’ marking the first time riders in the US will be able to take advantage of the more selective style of riding.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi (pictured at the event where the app merge announcement was made) has made some key changes to Uber and its platform throughout the last several months

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi (pictured at the event where the app merge announcement was made) has made some key changes to Uber and its platform throughout the last several months

In the UK, riders have been able to favorite drivers since June.

Among the major advantages of the feature, according to Uber, will be an increased sense of safety for passengers who may be concerned about getting in the car with a dangerous driver.

Hong Kong-based coder Jane Manchun Wong first spotted 'Record Audio it in the Uber app last month

Hong Kong-based coder Jane Manchun Wong first spotted ‘Record Audio it in the Uber app last month

Uber has been at the center of several safety related controversies throughout the past year, including numerous cases in which drivers were recorded assaulting female passengers. 

As a result, the ride-sharing giant has attempted to include more robust safety measures in its platform including a ride-check feature that checks in with riders when their trip has veered off course or if the vehicle they’re traveling in has been stopped for a suspicious amount of time.

In a more controversial move, Uber also announced that it will begin recording audio during rides to help mitigate safety risks.

The feature will be an opt-in for both drivers and riders and will be piloted in select Latin America cities next month followed by additional testing in the US ‘soon’. 

As a part of its favorite driver roll out, Uber will also begin letting users view their trip route ahead of time.

The company hopes that the feature will help riders make more informed decisions on how they travel.



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.