UPDATED 19:27 EDT / JUNE 29 2016

NEWS

Uber rolls out app changes to encourage safe driving habits

Uber is rolling out a few changes to its app that are aimed at monitoring driving habits and coaching drivers on how to be safer on the road. The information on the new features accompanied a new study by Uber on the correlation between an increase in the number of passenger pickups and a decrease in the number of DUI arrests.

“We believe that technologies like Uber provide an incredible opportunity to improve road safety in new and innovative ways—before, during and after every ride,” Uber said in a blog post co-written by MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church and Uber Chief Security Officer Joe Sullivan. “Today too many people are hurt or killed on the roads. While alcohol is the leading cause of traffic crashes, there are other behaviors that can put people at risk—for instance if drivers are on drugs, haven’t gotten enough sleep or are distracted.”

Here is the list of changes coming to Uber’s app for drivers (via Uber.com):

  • Daily reports to drivers about how their driving patterns compare to other drivers in their city—with suggestions on how to provide a smoother, safer ride
  • Reminders to drivers of the importance of taking a break when they need it
  • Messages in the driver app informing drivers that mounting their phone on the dashboard is safer than holding the phone in their hands
  • Speed display in the app that alerts drivers to the speed of their vehicle

Uber said that the new features will first roll out to drivers in 11 different cities across the US with more cities to come later. The company made no mention on whether or not it plans to use the data from its new monitoring features to evaluate its drivers, or if any of this information will be available to riders.

Image courtesy of Uber Technologies Inc

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