Uber is now asking riders to get verified as a safety measure for drivers

Uber announced a caller rider verification diagnostic aimed astatine giving drivers and couriers much bid of caput astir their customers.

The rideshare institution has tried to fight fraud and amended safety connected its level done a variety of methods, including information check-ins, PIN verification, and audio recordings of rides. But to date, astir of these efforts person focused connected the information of riders, not drivers. Some drivers person urged Uber to bash much for them, starring to today’s announcement astir a caller rider verification process.

Uber customers who take to beryllium verified volition person their idiosyncratic information, similar their sanction and telephone number, cross-checked against third-party databases to marque definite determination aren’t immoderate imaginable reddish flags. In addition, they tin opt to upload their government-issued ID to the Uber app to further verify their identity. Customers who are verified volition person a peculiar badge attached to their relationship that volition beryllium disposable to drivers earlier they judge travel requests.

At a information lawsuit contiguous successful Washington, DC, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the institution has banned astir 15,000 rider accounts aft they were recovered to beryllium utilizing fake and inappropriate names. The changes being announced contiguous are meant to springiness drivers much assurance that they aren’t being scammed oregon targeted erstwhile they judge travel oregon transportation requests.

“We admit that driving and delivering successful today’s satellite comes with its challenges, and we privation you to cognize that we’re present to enactment you,” Khosrowshahi said to the drivers gathered astatine the event.

Rider verification is strictly voluntary, meaning the institution volition request to trust connected the goodwill of riders successful bid for it to person a meaningful impact. Toward that end, Uber began investigating rider verification successful a fig of cities earlier this twelvemonth and was satisfied with the results: “the bulk of riders” successful those aviator markets got verified, and those that were “tend to springiness drivers 5 stars much often,” the institution said. “Riders who are verified besides get less superior complaints from drivers.”

Uber hopes that rider verification volition supply different furniture by which to support drivers, who successful galore ways are the company’s halfway customers. While riders thin to beryllium fickle and hop betwixt apps based connected hold times oregon prices, drivers are much apt to instrumentality with the level that pays them the most. And drivers person historically felt similar they don’t person a dependable with Uber, often railing against deactivation policies and calling for much reliable operator enactment services.

For its part, Uber says it’s unfastened to changes sought by drivers. In 2019, the institution started deactivating riders who consistently received mediocre ratings from drivers. And Uber has a database of assemblage guidelines for riders, which include a batch of atrocious behaviors that volition get you banned from the platform.

At the operator event, Khosrowshahi said the institution was committed to maintaining an unfastened dialog with drivers. “Rest assured, we’ve got your back, we’re listening,” helium said. “We’re committed to improving.”