Uber Rides Now Safer: Cab Hailing Service Launches 24x7 Helpline For Riders In India To Address Safety Related Issues

Cab hailing service Uber on Tuesday has launched the latest safety feature- a 24/7 ‘Safety Helpline’ for riders in India, reports the Hindustan Times. The pilot project for the safety helpline was earlier launched in March and now will hit cities across India.

The safety helpline option is built-in and will be found under the ‘shield’ icon. Users will only need to tap the icon and select ‘Safety Helpline’ option before swiping to make the call. The company said that the helpline will address safety-related issues with the ride.

There are four reasons listed by Uber for riders to use the safety helpline- altercations with drive, rash or drowsy driving, route issues and car breakdown. The feature will also flag irregularities in the ride via the feature. Uber will alert the driver and rider and ask if everything is alright the cab takes a long stop during the trip.

Earlier, Uber introduced the ‘Ride Check’ feature which uses GPS and other sensors from the driver’s phone to detect a possible crash. Last year, Uber also rolled out the ‘Safety Toolkit’ last year, which includes sharing details of journey with five trusted contacts, updated emergency button and driver information.