Uber has rolled out new safety features for use by drivers with iPhone operating systems in North Texas.
Uber drivers in Dallas-Fort Worth have a new way to protect themselves from false reports, unfair ratings, and unruly riders thanks to new in-app safety features, including the new “Record My Ride” (RMR)
The RMR feature “allows drivers to record video of trips using their smartphone’s front-facing camera, without the need to invest in a separate dashcam,” according to a company news release.
By rolling out the new safety features in North Texas, Uber says it is promoting greater safety for drivers and passengers in the region.
“We are improving the driver experience to help keep them safer on the road,” said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi in a statement to KTLA. “From trip recording, more transparent deactivations, and expanded rider verification — we’re with them every mile of the way.”
The RMR feature will also allow the company “to more quickly and fairly resolve any incidents that may arise,” the ride-hailing platform explained on its website.
RMR will film the Uber trip from beginning to end. Once the trip has been completed, the video footage is encrypted and stored on the driver’s iOS device. The video file is deleted if the driver does not file a report within a week.
“[E]very recording is encrypted and stored directly on drivers’ devices, and nobody—not Uber, not riders, not drivers—can access it unless a driver chooses to send it to us for review,” Uber explained.
This video-recording capability is an evolution of a feature the company rolled out nationwide earlier this year that allowed drivers to opt in to audio recordings of their rides.
“Every recording is encrypted and stored directly on drivers’ devices, and nobody—not Uber, not riders, not drivers—can access it unless a driver chooses to send it to us for review,” Uber said in the news release. “We believe both of these recording features will help promote safety and allow us to more quickly and fairly resolve any incidents that may arise.”
Other features soon to be implemented include a Review Center that provides transparency to drivers and riders whose accounts are deactivated, as well as allows them to request further review of the decision and provide additional information like audio or video recordings. Next year, the company plans to expand its rider verification system.
The U.S. cities where Uber is rolling out the extended iOS safety features include Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles, among others.
