Uber is releasing its audio-recording characteristic to 3 US cities later this month, Uber mentioned in its press launch.

At the start of a visit, riders and drivers can allow this characteristic by clicking the defend icon within the app’s Safety Toolkit and choosing “Record Audio.” While each riders and drivers can file particular person journeys, drivers have the choice to depart the characteristic on whereas they’re actively in search of rides. The app will notify the rider if the driving force is utilizing the characteristic. Uber first launched audio recording in Latin America in 2019.

The transfer is the primary in-app characteristic that gives audio documentation of rides. Uber allows drivers to make use of their very own dashcams to file rides on their very own if native legal guidelines allow it.

As for audio file privateness, the file is encrypted and saved on rider and driver’s gadgets, however nobody can take heed to the audio, even Uber. If both the rider or driver decides to submit a security report, they will connect the audio file, and a educated Uber security agent will decrypt and evaluate the recording.

Along with audio recording, Uber is releasing audible seat belt alerts quickly, in response to the press launch. The seat belt alert will come from the driving force’s telephone, and the rider will obtain a push notification reminding them to placed on their seat belt. Uber mentioned that this characteristic might be accessible within the US in early 2022.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — or NHTSA — reported that in 2020, the nationwide seat belt use fee was 90.3 p.c. NHTSA additionally reported that of the 22,415 passenger car occupants killed in 2019, 47 p.c weren’t sporting seat belts. NHTSA mentioned they discovered no vital modifications in seat belt use from 2019 to 2020.

Uber additionally introduced enhancements for its RideCheck characteristic, first launched in 2019 to detect accidents and strange lengthy stops. Now, RideCheck can now detect when Uber drivers take an sudden route or when a visit ends abruptly earlier than the ultimate vacation spot. If detected, riders and drivers will obtain a notification to verify all the pieces is secure.

Uber first printed a security report in 2019 information between 2017 and 2018 following elevated complaints from occupants relating to its security practices. Ultimately, these observations included the security of drivers who’ve additionally complained to the corporate about rider habits.

Uber has been steadily releasing new security options in response to each riders and drivers experiencing unsafe situations throughout their journeys, together with allegations of sexual assault. In March, Uber, together with its competitor Lyft, introduced that it might share details about drivers who had been deactivated for committing critical offenses.