NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 1 – Ride-hailing company Uber is planning to introduce an audio recording safety feature on the app to protect drivers and customers in case of safety incidents.
The new opt-in audio recording feature has already been rolled out in Nigeria, South Africa, and the USA, where it has improved safety.
Riders or drivers can start recording trips at any point in the trip by pressing the blue button.
Whereas both riders and drivers can record the audio of individual trips, drivers have the option to leave the feature on while they are actively seeking rides.
Uber says that the new feature was introduced following feedback from a roundtable session.
“We believe that this feature will further improve the conduct of users of the Uber app, as drivers and riders hold each other accountable every step of the way,” Imran Manji, Head of East Africa at Uber.
“We have rolled this feature out in other markets where it has proven very successful, and we are hoping to see similar up-take across the country,” he added.
The new feature follows the recent introduction of Safety Check-Up, a feature that encourages riders to utilise and turn on the safety features available in-app, including Trusted Contacts, Verify My Ride, and RideCheck.
“All trips are GPS-tracked, RideCheck can detect unusual routes, your loved ones can follow your route in real-time, and you can get private emergency help through the app at the push of a button,” Manji added.
“We’ll keep working to develop and deliver new features to help enhance the safety and give users more peace of mind when using Uber.”
