Uber Will Enable In-App Audio Recordings Plus Other Safety Features
Drivers & passengers can now discreetly record conversations from the Uber app. Audio monitoring pilot launches in the US with Kansas City, Louisville & Raleigh-Durham being initial markets
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Based on a recent blog post by Uber VP of Product Management Sachin Kansal, the rideshare giant is set roll out three new and enhanced safety related features for both drivers and passengers.
In-App Audio Recordings
Audible Seat Belt Alerts
Trip Auditing Enhancements via RideCheck
While all three features are interesting, I believe many drivers and passengers will be most intrigued by the in-app audio recording feature. Interestingly, the audio recording feature has been active for about two years in many of Uber’s Latin & South American markets, including Mexico and Brazil. For example, Uber reports ~70% of riders and drivers surveyed in Rio de Janeiro told them the feature helped them feel safer when using Uber. The first US cities that will have the feature enabled will be Kansas City, Louisville & Raleigh-Durham ahead of a broader rollout.
How it Works?
Uber uploaded a helpful one minute video (see below) on their YouTube page overviewing how the audio recording feature works. The Company also has a dedicated website with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the feature.
Once riders and drivers enable this feature, they can choose to record audio by tapping the shield icon on the map screen and selecting “Record Audio.” Riders and drivers can choose to record individual trips, and drivers will also have the option to leave the feature on while they’re online. Before the trip, we’ll let the rider know in their app if a driver has opted into the feature.
To help protect privacy, the audio file is encrypted and stored on the rider and driver’s devices—and by default no one can listen to the audio, including Uber. If either user submits a safety report to Uber, they can attach the audio file to their report. At that point, a trained Uber safety agent will decrypt and review the submitted audio recording, as well as any other relevant information, to help determine what happened and the best course of action. - Uber Blog
Can Audio Recordings Help With Deactivations?
It’s unclear whether the recordings can reverse or help in deactivation decisions, but I would imagine it adds another layer of protection for both drivers and passengers who are unfairly accused of wrongdoing. Even with an audio recording feature, as I wrote recently, I still believe Uber (& Lyft) deactivations in NYC must have more oversight given the company’s large market share. That being said, the in-app recording will likely be welcomed by the vast majority of NYC TLC drivers who can use the feature in conjunction with a dash cam (Note: audio recording files are only available when an official dispute is filed with Uber, it doesn’t appear audio recording files are generally accessible by either driver or passenger).
While some drivers may choose to record passengers (or vice versa) with their own phone, the fact that the feature is built into the Uber app makes any dispute process much more fluid in my opinion (i.e., Uber might not readily accept other audio recordings as evidence). The only other thought I had was that TLC drivers will likely need to buy stickers for the outside of their vehicles reminding passengers that they are being recorded.
Seat Belt Alert & RideCheck
As mentioned before, the other two safety features Uber is rolling out along with in-app audio recording are an audible seat belt alert for passengers and an enhancement to the existing RideCheck feature that can detect an unexpected route or when a trip ends abruptly / unexpectedly. As The Verge highlights, of the 22,415 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2019, 47% were not wearing seat belts.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — or NHTSA — reported that in 2020, the national seat belt use rate was 90.3%. NHTSA also reported that of the 22,415 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2019, 47% were not wearing seat belts. NHTSA said they found no significant changes in seat belt use from 2019 to 2020. - The Verge
According to Uber, the audio for the seat belt alert will come from the driver’s phone and will be accompanied by a push notification to the rider’s phone reminding them to fasten their seat belts. The seatbelt warning feature is expected to be implemented nationally early next year. Given New York State’s new Seat Belt Law and the recent TLC directive that drivers have seat belt decals inside their vehicles, the audible alert will hopefully help drivers avoid passenger confrontation related to buckling up!
What do you think of the new features Uber is releasing? Will you use them (when they become available in NYC)?
AutoMarketplace NYC covers the for-hire transportation industry and automotive news. Check out AutoMarketplace on YouTube ▶️