The arrival of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft and other smaller players has brought relief and convenience for those who prefer riding more than driving. But as with a lot of things now in the digital age, there are also drawbacks and this time around, it can actually boil down to a matter of life and death. That’s why Uber has finally rolled out their promised 911 panic button so riders will be able to ask for help during dangerous moments. This is one way that the (arguably) most popular ride sharing service can help repair its “flagging safety reputation”.
There have already been numerous instances of riders (and sometimes drivers/partners) sharing their awful experiences while ride sharing. While some are just about impolite or too talkative drivers, dirty cars, smelly vehicles, etc, there are also instances that have actually resulted in criminal acts and cases. In fact, a CNN investigation released last April said that there are currently 103 Uber drivers that are accused of sexual assault or abuse, and that’s in the US alone. At least 31 drivers have already been convicted for various crimes including forcible touching, false imprisonment, and in some cases, even rape. The company claims to have an intensive background check for its partners, but some bad apples still fall through the cracks.
One solution or stop gap that Uber has now given its riders is a panic button located in a new safety center menu that you can access from your app’s home screen. In case there is a major problem with your current trip, you can swipe up from the safety center icon and then tap on the 911 assistance button. You will be connected to a emergency dispatchers once you confirm that you are indeed dialing 911. Some markets are also part of a 911 integration pilot in which your location and trip detail will be automatically sent to the operator when you place a distress call. This is to help make better the location accuracy of 911 dispatchers. This is being tested in the following places in the US: Denver, Colorado; Charleston, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Naples, Florida.
According to Sachin Kansal, this safety feature is only available for riders for now but since drivers also sometimes face perilous situations, they are also working on a panic button for drivers. The purpose of this panic button is to deter both parties from “behaving badly” and to remind them that someone is watching. Uber doesn’t have a great reputation when it comes to safety records. One case involves a woman who sued the company after she was raped by an Uber driver in India because top executives deliberately tried to discredit her. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said that this panic button and also the improved driver screening is just the beginning of their commitment to the safety of both riders and drivers.
You can never be too careful when using ride sharing services, so here are some things that you can do
* Share your trip details with someone, especially if you’re traveling in an unfamiliar area.
* Avoid giving personal information to your driver even if you’re exchanging pleasantries with them
* Confirm the driver and the car before getting into any vehicle
* Be aware of your surroundings when you’re on ride and don’t just be on your phone the entire time, especially if you’re not familiar with the place
* As much as possible, try not to fall asleep
* As much as possible, don’t get into a car when you’re too intoxicated
* Give feedback through the app’s system especially if you had a bad experience with the driver (or rider)
VIA: The Verge
