You deserve to be able to move safely. To look forward to the opportunities ahead. To be connected to people and places that matter most. Which is why we’re focused on your safety, from setting new standards to developing technology with the goal of reducing incidents.

Over the past four years, we have introduced new safety features, including an in-app emergency button, and made investments in new processes and technologies to enhance safety standards on our platform. In next few weeks, Sri Lankans will have access to an on-trip  Uber Safety Helpline, RideCheck, a feature that detects trip irregularities and PIN verification, to help ensure riders are getting into the car they are matched with.

Uber Safety Helpline: The new safety helpline will provide riders with the option to get in touch with Uber’s safety team should they have an urgent but non-emergency issue during a trip, such as reporting misbehaviour by a co-passenger, a dispute with a driver or a break-down. At the tap of a button, riders can immediately connect with Uber’s response team, where safety experts will be available 24×7.

         How this works

    • Step 1: Rider needs to contact Uber to report a non-emergency safety incident and taps the shield icon
    • Step 2: Taps the safety helpline icon
    • Step 3: Swipes to speak to an Uber representative

RideCheck: Since our first ride nearly a decade ago, GPS has been the backbone of the Uber experience. Every trip is on the map, so we know where and when you’re riding and who’s behind the wheel.By using this data and other sensors in drivers’ smartphones, our technology can detect long stops and possible crashes.

When a RideCheck is initiated, both a rider and driver will receive a notification asking if everything is OK. They can let us know through the app that all is well, or take other actions like using the emergency button or reporting the issue to Uber’s Safety Line. Our safety team may also follow up by phone to inquire about the RideCheck. This technology will continue to evolve, and we are working to add additional scenarios to RideCheck. 

 

PIN Verification: The safety PIN is a trip verification feature to help ensure riders are getting into the car they are matched with through the app. Riders will receive a 4-digit PIN that they can provide verbally to their driver who can start the trip in the app only when the correct PIN is entered. In addition to the PIN, Uber announced its working on advanced technologies that will in the future use Ultrasound waves to automatically transmit the safety PIN for verifying rides. Riders can opt-in to the feature, and can choose to receive a PIN on every trip or just night time trips. 

 

Helping keep millions of riders and drivers around the world safe is a huge responsibility with unique challenges. While we are proud of the progress we’ve made, when it comes to safety, we know our work is never done and that safety will remain an ongoing effort.