The Silicon Review ^Asia

With regard to women’s safety in India, Uber has announced a bunch of safety features specific to Uber’s operations in the Indian sub-continent. The features include RideCheck, audio recording and PIN verification. The audio recording feature is expected to come out later this year as a pilot program in India.

Keeping Tabs on Long Mid-Trip Halts

Using RideCheck, Uber will be keeping a check on trips and will look into irregularities like unexpected and long stops. Uber explained that long stops are sometimes safety risks especially for women. So when a long stop happens, they will perform a RideCheck by contacting both the driver and the passenger. It is the first time that Uber will reach out to the drivers or the passengers mid-trip in order to offer help.

Audio Recording during Trips

 This feature is expected to be launched in India as a pilot program. It will give both the rider and the driver the option to record the trip while it is in progress. When the ride ends, the user can confirm that the trip has ended safely or report a safety incident and submit the recording. Uber only gets access to the audio file if the user sends it. Recording can also be started from the middle of the trip, whenever deemed necessary.

PIN Verification

Like Ola, Uber too is introducing the PIN verification feature that lets the rider share the PIN with their driver in order to start the ride. The ride cannot be started without the PIN provided. It is to ensure that riders get into their designated Uber and avoid mishaps by accidentally taking the wrong driver.

Uber is also working on other advanced safety measures to ensure the safety of both the passenger and the rider in the future.