Uber has launched two new safety features in the UK, allowing passengers to record audio of their journeys and introducing a verified passenger badge. The audio recording feature can be activated before or during a trip, with drivers notified and able to cancel without penalty. Recordings are encrypted and only accessible to Uber if uploaded as part of a safety report, after which they are deleted within two weeks if no report is made.
The verified badge, rolling out next week, will appear on profiles of passengers whose personal details have been cross-checked with third-party databases or who have uploaded an official ID and selfie. Uber UK general manager Andrew Brem said the features provide “extra peace of mind” for both riders and drivers.
Local transport minister Lilian Greenwood welcomed the move, stating that “everyone deserves to feel safe when travelling.” Lucy Duckworth of the Survivors Trust called the features “a positive step,” while Uber driver and GMB union branch secretary Kola Olalekan said the verification badge gives him “extra confidence” and makes him more likely to accept bookings.
The announcement follows Uber’s expansion of electric vehicle options to eight more UK cities, including Birmingham, Manchester, and Edinburgh, with EV trips costing the same as standard UberX rides.
