Uber adds major new safety feature allowing recording of journeys  

Uber passengers will be able to hit the record button on journeys to capture audio after a new feature to tackle safety concerns was added.  

The company has become synonymous with ride-hailing in the UK. Uber is thought to have more than 100,000 drivers on its platform and millions of riders.  

In a bid to make the interactions safer for passengers and drivers, Uber announced its latest features today, including the voice recording option and verification for customers.  

How does it work?  

Uber said the tool will give riders and drivers ‘extra peace of mind.’  

The record option will be available on the app either before or during a trip, with a button to start recording appearing on the screen.  

The audio will be encrypted and stored on the customer’s phone.  

But the audio won’t be sent to Uber automatically – they can only access it if it is uploaded through the app as part of a safety record.  

The audio will be deleted after two weeks if no safety report is lodged.  

Meanwhile, Uber drivers will receive a notification if the audio record is activated before the journey.  

They will then have the option to cancel the booking without a penalty.  

The audio recording option will go live today for most of the UK, while London will follow later.

If the passenger activates the audio recording during the ride, the driver won’t be notified to avoid escalating any potential safety situation, Metro understands.

If the recording is submitted to Uber with a safety report, the driver will be notified.

What other Uber features are new?  

From next week, passengers can get verified on the app, which will be visible to drivers.  

Those customers who have had their details cross-checked by uploading a picture of their ID and a selfie, or verified details with a third-party database, will have a verified badge on their profile.  

This option is set to be rolled out from June.

Kola Olalekan, an Uber driver and the branch secretary of the GMB union, said seeing a verified badge on a profile would make him much more likely to accept a booking because of ‘extra confidence’ it gives.  

Andrew Brem, the general manager of Uber UK, said: ‘We are always investing in new ways to make journeys even safer. 

‘These new safety features provide both riders and drivers with extra peace of mind. 

‘Riders can record the audio of their journeys securely, and drivers can feel more confident about who is getting in their car.’ 

Drivers and safety campaigners welcomed the safety changes.  

Lucy Duckworth, from the Survivors Trust representing rape and sexual abuse victims, said the two new features are a step towards giving riders and drivers more confidence about journeys.

She said: ‘We have to create a safety-first culture as a society, where people respect each other and unsafe behavior is challenged.’

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