Uber Expands RideCheck Safety Feature To Canada
Written byOur global safety team has a simple, critical mission: to help set the standard for ridesharing safety.
Over the past three years, we’ve introduced new safety features, including an in-app emergency button and bike lane alerts. We have continuously made investments in technologies to help improve the safety of the platform. Last month, Uber launched the PIN Code Verification Feature, which allows riders the option of receiving a four-digit PIN code to provide to their driver before starting a trip in the app across Canada and the US.
As we look to continue raising the bar on safety, we are now rolling out RideCheck to riders and drivers across the country. RideCheck proactively surfaces tools riders and drivers may need when it detects something may have gone wrong, like a possible crash or an unexpected long stop.
We have been piloting and refining this feature before launching it in the US last fall. We are proud to now make it available in the Canadian cities where we are available.*
How RideCheck Works
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. By using this data and other sensors in drivers’ smartphones, our technology can detect possible crashes or an unexpected long stop.
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.** In the event of a crash, we can also help expedite the insurance claims process.
This technology will continue to evolve, and we are working on adding additional scenarios to RideCheck. Helping keep millions of riders and drivers around the world safe is a huge responsibility with unique challenges. While I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, when it comes to safety, we know our work is never done.
Safety is a top priority at Uber and will continue to look for ways to make our platform safer for all users.
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*RideCheck crash detection is currently not available in Quebec. However, if long stops are detected, drivers and riders in all of Canada will receive an in-app message.
**Uber’s Safety Line is currently not available in Quebec.