Uber Will Assign You A Safety Agent To Talk To During Uneasy Rides
The uneasy feeling of an Uber ride turned suspicious can leave anyone with a sense of dread. However, not every situation we are caught in requires the police, and sometimes we just need our rides to be tracked as we get to our destination.
Cue Uber’s updated Safety Toolkit. When the feature is activated on the app, the user will be connected to an agent from home security company ADT in hopes to help riders and drivers alike stay safe in certain situations.
Rebecca Payne, Uber’s Lead Safety Product Manager, says this option could be used, for example, when a rider doesn’t comply with guidelines, the passenger feels unsafe in a neighborhood, or if the driver makes an unwarranted stop along the way.
The ADT officer will gain access to the user’s location via GPS once they are connected to the person in need.
During the journey, the agent will be able to speak to the user via phone or text, as well as send vital information to 911 should things escalate.
The updated Safety Toolkit is also enhancing its text-to-911 feature, making it easier for passengers to discreetly reach out through messages.
The private car-hailing service has been embroiled in serious driver issues since 2014, including sexual assault allegations from its passengers.
CNN conducted an investigation looking into the claims in 2018 and Uber stepped forward to help with the inspection. Within the inquisition, the company provided over 9,000 reports of sexual assault varying from non-consensual kissing to rape. It’s safe to say a system such as this has been long overdue.
