PROVIDENCE – About a year in the making, Uber Technologies Inc. announced that it has rolled out its RideCheck feature, which presents tools that riders or drivers may need if it senses something has gone wrong.
Using GPS and sensors in drivers’ smartphones, RideCheck detects if the ride has gone off course or has been involved in an accident, for example, according to Uber.
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When a RideCheck is initiated, the rider and driver will receive a notification asking if everything is OK. Using the app, they can respond that all is well, use the emergency button or report the issue to Uber’s Safety Line, so that Uber can follow up by phone.
Uber says it is looking to add different potential emergency scenarios to RideCheck. The feature is available in the United States, with plans to expand to other countries. In the past three years, Uber has added an emergency button into the app where a rider can communicate trip information with dispatchers, among other safety features.
Susan Shalhoub is a PBN contributing writer.
