The image is by Alex Castro.
In a press release, the company said that it will be releasing its audio-recording feature to three US cities later this month.
Riders and drivers can enable this feature by clicking the shield icon in the app's Safety Toolkit and selecting "Record Audio." While both riders and drivers can record individual trips, drivers have the option to leave the feature on while they are actively seeking rides. The rider will be notified if the driver uses the feature. Audio recording was launched by the company in Latin America.
The first in-app feature that provides audio documentation of rides is the move. If local laws permit it, drivers can use their own dash cam to record rides.
The audio file is stored on rider and driver's devices, but no one can listen to it. The rider or driver can attach an audio file if they decide to submit a safety report, and a trained safety agent will review the recording.
According to the press release, audible seat belt warnings will be released soon. The seat belt alert will come from the driver's phone, and the rider will receive a push notification reminding them to put on their seat belt. The feature will be available in the US in early 2022.
The national seat belt use rate was 90.3 percent in 2020, according to the NHTSA. The NHTSA reported that 47 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in the year were not wearing seat belts. NHTSA found no changes in seat belt use.
Almost half of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in the year were not wearing seat belts.
The RideCheck feature was first launched in 2019. RideCheck can now detect when a ride ends abruptly before the final destination. Riders and drivers will receive a notification if they are detected.
The safety report published by the company in the first quarter of this year looked at data from the years of 2017: The safety of drivers who have complained about rider behavior was included in these observations.
New safety features have been released by the company in response to riders and drivers who have experienced unsafe conditions. In March, the two companies announced that they would share information about drivers who were suspended for serious offenses.
