Uber Has Added a Feature So Passengers Can Sneakily Report Safety Concerns

Here’s how you can use it.

Good news for Uber passengers: earlier this week, the ridesharing service added a handy new feature that helps riders subtly report their drivers for non-emergency issues.

By 'non-emergency', Uber is referring to problems like texting while driving, speeding or otherwise not following the road rules.

The new update comes thanks to feedback from Aussie customers who were looking for a way to report their trip while it was still happening, rather than after it had been completed.

If you’re worried this might be a bit awkward to do while you’re in the back of someone’s car, don’t worry. Not only is the new feature convenient, but it’s super discreet. Drivers won’t undergo a follow-up from the Uber Safety Team until after the trip is completed.

So, if you’re worried your driver is getting a bit too handsy with their phone or they can’t help but overtake everyone else on the road, you can give Uber a little *nudge* to make sure it doesn’t happen to the next passenger.

If you’re wondering what the difference between reporting during your ride instead of after is, according to Uber their research shows that riders are more likely to report an uncomfortable experience when they are on the journey, rather than after they exit the vehicle.

So, if you wanna know how to use it for your next trip, here’s how it works:

1. If you’re on a trip where the driver is making unsafe choices while driving you can head to the in-app Safety Toolkit that looks like a blue shield icon.
2. From there you should be able to see a 'report safety incident' button. You’ll want to tap on that.
3. This will enable you to report a non-emergency safety issue on the jouney. All you need to do is type in the given box what your concerns are and press submit.

If you need a visual aid, here’s a quick in-app rundown from Uber.

"Safety is at the heart of everything we do here at Uber. That means developing innovative solutions that reduce barriers to reporting, such as those in our suite of in app safety features, to help make the Uber platform safer than ever before," Uber said in a statement.

Not only will this handy new feature make your ride experience more comfortable, but it also aims to help Uber pinpoint any issues that can help make the platform and their services safer for everyone.

If you are an experiencing an emergency situation or an urgent safety concern in an Uber, contact your local emergency services using the 'Emergency Assistance' button in the app.

The Uber app is available to download from the App Store and Google Play.

Header Image: RyanJLane via Getty Images