PROVIDENCE – Bristol County, Mass., and the rest of the Bay State now have Uber 911, an emergency information-sharing program that sends trip details to dispatchers when the Uber in-app emergency button is used to call 911.
The emergency button was first introduced last year. Although it has launched in more than 250 cities and counties, Massachusetts is the first to offer Uber 911 statewide.
According to Uber Technologies Inc., the new safety technology will automatically communicate real-time location and car information to emergency dispatchers with a goal of getting emergency crews to the scene as fast as possible. It shows the car’s make, model, color and license plate.
Uber has partnered with New York-based RapidSOS to pilot the 911 integration with local emergency authorities, according to a news release.
“Safety is at the heart of everything we do, and we believe technology can help make the roads safer than ever before. Every second counts in an emergency,” said Chad Dobbs, head of rides for Uber in Massachusetts.
Jeff Robertson, general manager of public safety at RapidSOS, said, “We are excited to expand our partnership with Uber to the state of Massachusetts, connecting lifesaving data from riders and drivers to all 911 centers across the state.”
Susan Shalhoub is a PBN contributing writer.
