When traveling with Uber, riders want to know who their driver is, and rightly so. There have been enough incidents with unscrupulous drivers to warrant this. However, drivers also want to know who they’re picking up. Which is where Uber’s new rider verification program comes into play.
Uber Launches New Rider Verification Program
As announced on the Uber Newsroom, the company has launched a new rider verification program across the US. The rider-sharing company previously tested this new program in a handful of US cities, and after positive results, is now rolling it out across the whole country.
It means that Uber drivers will now be able to see when a rider has undergone the necessary verification steps to earn a “Verified” rider badge. Giving Uber drivers more confidence that who they’re picking up is who they say they are, and ultimately enhancing their safety.
As a rider, getting verified means either uploading an ID or having your account information checked against third-party databases. Once completed, you’ll get a shiny badge on your profile which drivers can see when you request a ride.
Uber’s new rider verification program is just one of a number of measures designed to keep drivers safe.
This includes the Record My Ride feature, which allows drivers to record video and audio on their smartphone. After a successful pilot, this is now available to drivers in all 50 states.
In the early days of Uber, almost anyone could pick anyone else up without much in the way of scrutiny. However, innovations launched since then include PIN verification to confirm the correct passenger is being picked up, and the ability for drivers to communicate with passengers via phone and message.
Verification Is Optional, but Could Shorten Pickup Times
It should be noted that rider verification is entirely optional. However, in Uber’s FAQs about the program, the company makes it clear that a lack of verification could mean longer wait times:
“Because drivers will see a rider’s verified badge when choosing to accept a trip, not being verified may lead to longer ETAs and pickup times.”
The goal here is to keep everyone safe when riding in an Uber. As important as it is for riders to know who is driving them home in order to avoid Uber scams, it’s also important for drivers to know who it is they’re picking up. After all, both parties are potentially vulnerable.
