Uber Will Require Indian Riders To Provide Authentication Code To Start A Ride

Uber said earlier this week that it’s releasing new safety features to Indian users in a new attempt to improve its ride-hailing service in India, one of the most important markets to the company.

The features include a 4-digit authentication code for users to make sure they are getting in the right car and an intervention from the company if there’s a long unexpected stop in a ride. According to Uber executives during a press event in New Delhi, the features began rolling out in India on Thursday.

While Ola has long been offering these features in India, Uber previously rolled out the functionalities in the US only. Uber added that it will enable drivers and riders in India to record the whole ride and send it to the firm if they have an uncomfortable experience. The firm said it will test this feature sometime this year.

The first feature is called Ride Check, which activates if there’s a long, unplanned stop, or any irregularity in a ride. When detecting that from the driver’s smartphone, Uber will call both the driver and the rider to check is things are okay.

Ola has been testing Guardian, a similar feature to Ride Check, since September 2018. Last month, the firm said that the feature will be rolled out in over 10 cities in India.

With the second feature, Uber will require riders to provide a 4-digit authentication code to verify that they are getting in the right car. A ride won’t begin until the right code is provided. Ola has offered this feature for years as well.

Besides, Uber said it has formed a partnership with Manas Foundation to conduct workshops about gender sensitivity for driver partners in the country to increase safety for women in rides. According to the firm, over 50,000 drivers have been trained.