Uber Has Unveiled a Heap of New Safety Functions to Help You Stay Safe During a Trip
Including a 'panic button' that connects you directly to 111 and the ability to easily share your location with friends and fam.
If you've ever felt unsafe in an Uber, because of a predatory driver, other riders or something going on outside the car, this new in-app feature might help ease your mind — a 'panic button' that lets riders contact emergency services directly through the Uber app.
It's part of a new Safety Toolkit, trialled in the USA earlier this year and currently being rolling out in New Zealand, which is designed to help both riders and drivers stay protected and connected during a trip.
According to the Uber website, you'll soon be able to access the new Safety Toolkit by clicking on a small shield icon located at the bottom right of the map. It'll allow you to connect instantly to 111 — with the app showing your location and address in real time, so you can pass it on to an operator if required. Drivers will be able to access the same emergency assistance feature on the left side of their own driver app.
Another new function allows both riders and drivers to keep their loved ones in the loop, by adding up to five people as 'Trusted Contacts' — you can then arrange to share your whereabouts and trip status with them at any time, with just a subtle tap of a button.
The Safety Toolkit also features a new SafetyCentre — a sort of hub, where you can learn all about insurance details, driver background checks and information of how to access Uber's 24/7 support.
The new Safety Toolkit is expected to appear in NZ apps over the upcoming weeks.
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