Uber recently unveiled that its drivers will benefit from new safety features embedded into the mobile app, such as break reminders and informative reports.
The functionality comes to counter the four Ds that constitute dangerous driving: drugged, drunk, drowsy and distracted.
The extra features will be tested in 11 cities, where Uber drivers will get reminders about taking a break when the app detects that they have been driving nonstop for too long. Keep in mind that 2016 is the first year when the car-hailing company enforced shift limits on drivers from New York. More specifically, Uber drivers in the Big Apple are allowed to use the app for a maximum of 12 hours back to back.
Claims from drivers that they were working 17 hours at a time raised some eyebrows, as the practice can be rather dangerous. The new reminder feature will now accompany the 12-hour limit for driver shifts.
Uber will send out daily reports to its drivers, detailing information about their driving style, such as acceleration during turns or sharp braking.
The car-hailing app will feature a speed display, informing drivers about their car's speed. The app will tap into the phone's gyroscope to gauge whether or not the driver is holding the phone in his hand. Should this be the case, the app will remind the driver that a dash mount contributes to traffic safety.
The expanded features will land before the July 4 weekend, which is known for its high incidence of drinking and driving. The company released statistics showing that its services led to a reduced number of alcohol-related driving violations and accidents.
Uber acknowledges that for its service to attract more users, it needs to provide a high degree of safety.
Keep in mind that Uber cannot guarantee that passing the background security checks makes its service 100 percent secure. Many rides go smoothly, with both the rider and the driver getting what they signed up for. However, the company's brand is affected by those rare events when rides come littered with violence or accidents.
The fact that the 1,099 drivers are virtually freelance drivers, Uber said multiple times that it should not be deemed responsible for their behavior. From Uber's perspective, the driver is the one who caters to the rider's safety.
"The only reason [customers] give people less stars is for poor driving and bad behavior, so delineating those two would be useful," says an Uber driver in San Francisco.
Earlier this year, Uber introduced a safety feature that enables users to track friends or family members who are using the car-hailing app.
