Uber has launched a new set of features in India on Wednesday, prioritizing the safety of its riders, particularly women. The updates include Audio Recording, Women Rider Preference, and a partnership with Bengaluru-based NGO Durga to sensitise drivers on appropriate conduct.
The Women Rider Preference feature allows female drivers to choose to accept only female riders, which has already facilitated over 21,000 trips. This feature is especially useful during late hours and helps female drivers prioritize their safety while increasing their earnings.
Apart from that riders can now record audio if they feel uncomfortable or concerned about their safety during trips. The encrypted recordings are not accessible to the rider, ensuring privacy. Uber does not access the audio unless the rider chooses to submit it as part of a safety report. This feature, compliant with India’s one-party consent law, is available nationwide for riders and drivers.
Additionally, Uber has introduced ‘Safety Preferences’, allowing riders to customize safety features like RideCheck, Share My Trip, and Audio Recording to activate automatically on every trip.
“The company has also bolstered existing features to boost women safety on the platform. Uber’s tech-enabled RideCheck detects irregularities such as route deviations or long stops, prompting a proactive check-in with riders and drivers. The 24×7 Safety Line offers round-the-clock access to safety experts for urgent but non-emergency issues during and after trips. Additionally, phone and address anonymization ensure privacy by concealing personal contact details and trip locations, protecting both riders and drivers” further stated the spokesperson .
With Uber’s new feature ‘Safety Preferences’ riders can now automatically activate tech-driven safety features on every trip. The feature allows riders to customize their safety settings for added peace of mind. From automatically sharing trip details with trusted contacts to enabling audio recording and RideCheck alerts, riders can tailor safety features to activate based on time or location—such as late-night trips or rides from specific areas. This one-stop destination within the app ensures a safer and more personalized experience for every trip.
SOS integration
This feature ensures quick emergency assistance by allowing riders and drivers to share live location and trip details directly with police during critical situations. This feature is designed to provide immediate support when every second counts. The feature is live in Telengana. Uber has completed testing in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and is set to roll-out as the State Police greenlights the collaboration.
Gender sensitisation
Uber has partnered with Durga, a Bangalore-based NGO, dedicated to promoting gender equity and safety. This partnership will include virtual sessions for drivers to understand and address the unique safety concerns of women riders, fostering a safer and more respectful experience for all.
Sooraj Nair, Head – Safety Operations, Uber India South Asia, said “We believe that our work on safety never stops. We’ve continually innovated to lead the industry on safety and enhance the overall experience on every Uber trip. Whether it’s through tech-driven solutions like SOS integration and Women Rider Preference, or through initiatives such as gender sensitization, we remain focussed on building a platform that riders and drivers can trust every time they choose Uber.”
