In a press release released today, Uber said it would release recordings in three U.S. cities later this month. At the start of the ride-hailing service, passengers and drivers can enable this feature by tapping on the shield icon in the app's safety kit and selecting "Record Audio".
Passengers and drivers can independently record personal trip conversations during the trip, and the driver can actively choose to turn on this function before soliciting passengers. If the driver is using the feature, the app will notify the passenger. Uber first introduced recording capabilities in Latin America in 2019. The move is the first in-app feature to provide ride audio recording. If local law permits, Uber allows drivers to record rides using their own dashboards.
As for the privacy of audio files, the files are encrypted and stored on the devices of passengers and drivers, but no one else can listen to the audio, even Uber. If a passenger or driver decides to submit a safety report, they can attach an audio file and trained Uber security personnel will decrypt and review the recording.
According to the press release, in addition to the recording, Uber will soon issue a seatbelt audible alert. Seatbelt alerts will come from the driver's phone and passengers will receive a push notification reminding them to fasten their seatbelts. Uber says the feature will be available in the U.S. in early 2022.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — or NHTSA — reports that in 2020, seat belts will be used at 90.3 percent nationwide. NHTSA also reported that 47 percent of the 22,415 passenger car occupants who died in 2019 were not wearing seat belts. NHTSA said they found no significant change in seat belt use from 2019 to 2020.
Uber also announced enhancements to its RideCheck feature, which was first introduced in 2019 to detect accidents and unusually long stops. RideCheck can now detect an Uber driver taking an unexpected route, or a trip that ends abruptly before its final destination. If detected, passengers and drivers will be notified to ensure everything is safe.