Uber simply introduced the growth of security options directed towards drivers, together with a nationwide rollout of enhanced rider verification. If a rider undergoes these extra verification steps they’ll get a “Verified” badge on their account, which can let drivers know every thing is on the up and up.
The corporate says it designed these new verification measures “in response to driver suggestions that they need to know extra about who’s getting of their automotive.” The corporate started testing this function earlier this yr and it should have been successful, because it’s getting a nationwide rollout. Lyft has its personal model of this instrument, although it is nonetheless being examined in choose markets.
Uber verifies riders by cross-checking account data in opposition to third-party databases, although it’ll additionally settle for official authorities IDs. This system will even enable customers to herald their verification standing from the CLEAR program.
Whereas rider ID is probably the most notable security instrument introduced, Uber’s additionally bringing its Report My Experience function to the entire nation after one other profitable beta check. This lets drivers report everything of the journey through their smartphone cameras, with out the necessity to put money into a dashcam. The footage is absolutely encrypted, with Uber saying no one can entry it except a driver sends it in for evaluation. The corporate hopes it will enable it to “extra shortly and pretty resolve any incidents that will come up.”
Drivers can now cancel any journey with out a monetary penalty and so they can “unmatch” from any riders they do not really feel snug selecting up. Lastly, there’s a brand new PIN verification function wherein drivers can request riders to enter a quantity to substantiate they’re, in reality, the right visitor.
Uber tends to focus its sources on riders over drivers, so this can be a good change of tempo. It’s sort of a bummer, nevertheless, that drivers require this sort of enhanced verification system simply to root out some dangerous apples and hold doing their jobs. In different phrases, don’t be a jerk throughout your subsequent Uber journey.