Signal 2: Ride-sharing companies and their safety features

Uber launched a new portfolio of safety features: the addition of an emergency button and a remote sensor to detect an unexpected stop or a crash.

Emergency button now can send real time location along with the vehicle details to the nearest police agency before you call 911

If there is a long, unexpected stop during a trip, both the rider and the driver will receive a rdie check notification to ask if everything is OK.

Ride sharing is now becoming the mainstream mode of the transportation platform, people prefer using carpools and paying a lower price than calling taxis on the road. However, the increasing crime which has been reported in Uber rides has shaken public faith in the company. This has not only happened in Uber, but with other ridesharing companies.

Competing on safety is increasingly common in the world of new transportation companies and innovations like self-driving. For Uber, launching safety features will not only rebuild its reputation, but also pressure its competitors to enhance their safety features as well.

Automakers should focus primarily on standardizing safety features in the industry instead of make safety features as a product to compete. For example, mandatory background checks of drivers and concealing specific pickup and drop-off addresses in the driver’s trip history should extend across the industry. If the industry can reach a consensus on safety issues, companies could reach higher profits than ever before.

Source:

1. Bussewitz, Cathy. “Uber Rolls Out Safety Features for Drivers, Passengers.” NBC New York, NBC New York, 5 Sept. 2018, www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/Uber-New-Safety-Features-Drivers-Passengers-492503611.html.
2. Bhuiyan, Johana. “Uber’s Sleek New Product? Your Safety.” Recode, Recode, 6 Sept. 2018, www.recode.net/2018/9/6/17824294/uber-safety-product-features.