There is a new platform that users can get a blue check on.
In their latest update, Uber announced the expansion of safety features for drivers and riders, including the ability for riders to get verified by the app.
A release issued by the rideshare giant on Wednesday morning dictated that it was drivers across the country – including in Los Angeles – that were looking for a change.
“Drivers have consistently told Uber they want to know more about who is getting in their vehicle,” the Uber release stated. “These new verification measures were built in response to this feedback and will help confirm that riders are who they say they are.”
So how exactly does the new verification process work?
According to Uber, most rider accounts will be verified using account details, so no additional action is needed. That said, riders also have the option to upload their government-issued ID and a selfie to get the verification badge.
Other new verification options have also been introduced, including the ability for existing CLEAR members to confirm their identity through their CLEAR account.
In addition to the verification badge, Uber is also giving drivers the ability to use their front-facing camera to record video and audio during trips, eliminating the need for a dashcam. The recordings are directly encrypted on the driver’s device and cannot be accessed unless the driver submits the file as part of a safety report, Uber said.
Riders will see a notification in the app if they are matched with a driver using this technology, officials noted.
More enhancements for driver safety include PIN verification; drivers nationwide can turn on this system which provides riders with a unique four-digit code that they need to see on the trip screen before the trip starts.
Riders will now also receive warnings from Uber if they receive a low rating for disrespectful behavior. Eventually, drivers will have the ability to block certain riders completely, so they won’t ever pick them up again.
A final tenet of the safety update is fare clarity, which was heavily requested by drivers.
“Drivers deserve to have a better understanding of their earnings, so we’re adding an in-app feature to make it crystal clear where every dollar a rider pays is going,” Uber said in their release. “Uber’s portion has stayed relatively flat over the years, but some drivers may not realize that a growing piece of the pie is going towards local government taxes and fees as well as the cost of commercial auto insurance, which Uber covers on drivers’ behalf in all 50 states.”
In a statement, Uber Head of Safety Roger Kaiser said the new measures are “fundamental to building trust on the platform” for both riders and drivers.
“In cities where we’ve been piloting this program, drivers agree that knowing riders’ identities are verified by Uber makes them feel safer,” Kaiser said.
The new safety features go into effect on Wednesday.