As part of measures to improve safety and, therefore, increase confidence in its service from the riders and drivers, Uber has embarked on a program of installing an audio recording system for its drivers in India. This feature, introduced in the company in the course of the overseen safety campaign, is intended to help users prevent potential conflicts, misconduct, and harassment during trips. Furthermore, the new women-only ride choice has been launched to give female drivers a safer platform on the app.
A look at the mode of operation of the audio recording feature.

A new feature of Uber lets drivers record the sounds of their ride on the app and have access to the audio stream. The recording only starts when the driver turns it on and is then kept safely within Uber’s network. Unfortunately, it is not possible for either the driver or the rider to physically retrieve these recordings. Instead, the recordings can only be seen by Uber’s safety team should there be a reported incident.

This feature is to ensure that riders and drivers do not indulge in improper conduct because such incidents will attract punitive measures; also, it acts as an additional means of proving an incident in the event that two arguing parties are involved. Uber has clarified that such recordings will still be encrypted and can be accessed only by certain personnel; the privacy of all the parties involved will be preserved.

Ride Preference to Female Drivers Only if it is a Vehicle for Women.

In the latest attempt to make women drivers safer and to make Uber safer for the women drivers to be on the road, they have added a feature to select Uber with women only. For female drivers, they can now switch between giving trips only to female riders. This option should help the company attract more women to sign up for the platform as drivers, as well as make female passengers feel safer by having a female driver.

Currently, the feature is open only in several cities and is planned to open in other cities depending on the frequency of usage. Uber India’s spokesperson said: “Safety is of paramount importance.” These are measures for creating proper conditions for activity on the platform for all users regardless of their origin.”

Addressing Safety Concerns

From the days of its inception, safety has remained a contentious matter for ridesharing apps, with Uber not exempt. With the introduction of audio recording, plus riding preferences based on male and female passengers, the firm plans on tackling some of these issues head-on.