Uber now tests front-facing video recordings during its rides to improve its safety.
The ride-hailing service announced that its drivers could start recording videos during their trips using the Driver app.
(Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
After dropping off passengers at a Broadway play, Johan Nijman, a for-hire driver who runs his own service and also drives for Uber on the side, drives through the West Side of Manhattan on Wednesday evening, August 8, 2018 in New York City. On Wednesday, New York City became the first American city to halt new vehicles for ride-hail services.
Uber Tests Video Recordings During Rides for Safety
As per the latest report by Tech Crunch, the giant ride-hailing platform introduced new safety features to protect its drivers.
One of the new safety features is the option to record videos while on a trip.
But this time, the video recording option is still in its testing phase. And as such, the said feature is only available in a few cities in the United States in the meantime. Not to mention that it is only coming to select drivers of the service.
(Photo : DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images)
A picture taken on October 1, 2019 shows the logo of Uber app displayed on a tablet screen, in Lille, northern France.
According to a recent news story by CNET, Uber is testing the new safety feature in three US cities, such as Louisville, Cincinnati, and New York City, to a select number of drivers.
Apart from the US, the video recording feature is also piloting in Brazil. It includes two cities, João Pessoa and Santos.
How Does the New Video Recording Feature Work?
Uber says that select drivers could now use a front-facing camera to record videos during trips. The feature works straight from the Driver app of the ride-hailing service.
It should replace their interior-facing dashcam once it starts rolling out, Tech Crunch says in the same report. Eventually, once the safety function is released to more drivers, it should enable them to record videos and audio during rides.
Uber is Also Expanding Its Audio Recording Feature to More Cities
The front-facing video recording feature is essentially an expansion of the audio recording function, wherein drivers could record audio during rides.
Tech Crunch notes in its report that Uber claims that its drivers feel safer when they are using the in-app audio recording feature during their trips. The giant ride-hailing service also says that it helps in figuring out the best course of action in safety incidents.
Besides the pilot of video recording, the audio recording feature will now be available in more cities in the US. Initially, it debuted in three cities.
But this time, it would also reach six more localities. It includes Tucson, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix. Uber drivers based in San Antonio, Nashville, and Cincinnati also get the safety feature.
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Written by Teejay Boris
