Drowsy driving is an issue for all who share the road. As the latest survey from the National Sleep Foundation reports, nearly seven million people admitted to dozing off behind the wheel within the same two weeks.

While nearly 60 percent of U.S. drivers use Uber less than 10 hours a week, we want to do our part to help prevent drowsy driving. That’s why we’re taking a step forward by launching a feature across the country that prompts drivers to go offline for six straight hours after a total of 12 hours of driving time.

This move will strengthen our approach to help keep riders and drivers safe on the road while preserving the flexibility drivers tell us they love. Here’s how it works:

  • The feature will count driving time, making it easy for drivers to keep tabs on how long they’ve been driving with Uber
  • It provides periodic notifications when approaching the 12-hour driving time limit and then automatically goes offline for six straight hours when the max has been reached
  • After the six hours, driving time resets and drivers can go online again to receive trip requests
  • Note: Different driving time limits may apply in some cities due to local regulations. For more information about your location, go here.

Everyone knows that drinking and driving is dangerous, but many don’t know the risks or warning signs of drowsy driving. Our Community Guidelines make clear that it’s important to take a break when feeling tired on the road. We’ve also piloted features like an in-app notification that reminds drivers of this. According to experts, raising awareness is key.

“Driver fatigue is a serious and underappreciated traffic safety issue, and states need all the help they can get to address it. GHSA is thrilled that Uber is taking steps to prevent drowsy driving by limiting the hours drivers can be behind the wheel,” said Jonathan Adkins, Executive Director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. “This new feature has tremendous potential to protect not only Uber driver-partners, but also their passengers and, ultimately, all road users.”

“The National Sleep Foundation’s validated Sleep Health Index® consistently finds that American adults only feel well-rested four days out of the week. Furthermore, the public is not fully aware of how this lack of good, restorative sleep can affect their overall well-being,” said David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. “This not only highlights the importance of outreach and education to help raise public awareness, but also the need for strategies that promote sleep health and safety. We’re pleased to see Uber taking this step and using technology to elevate the importance of this issue.”

Uber is constantly looking at new ways to use technology to contribute to safety in our communities. We want to promote safe and responsible use of our app. Together we move.

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