(NewsNation) — Uber drivers now have a new level of protection against potentially dangerous passengers: a blue checkmark that confirms that the rider’s identification has been verified.
“These are just designed to help confirm that riders are who they say they are,” said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, in a video conference with Uber drivers last week.
Rideshare drivers have been asking for better safety features to better protect them against carjackings and assaults.
“Drivers like you can see before you decide whether or not you’re going to accept that ride, Khosrowshahi added. “When you see the ‘verified’ badge, they will have gone through this process. They will be safe.”
For most riders, the verification process will be automatic. But those using Uber gift cards or who signed up with an anonymous form of payment such as Venmo will be required to upload a government ID like a driver’s license or passport.
Khosrowshahi told drivers that the testing in some cities produced positive results for both drivers and riders.
“Drivers and verified riders have given each other higher ratings … and verified riders tip more often and get less serious complaints from drivers,” he said.
Khosrowshahi announced several other upgrades to the Uber driver app, including video recording within the app, rider accountability protocols and traffic reporting within the driver app.
Also: Uber drivers who own Teslas will be able to sync the Uber app to their vehicle’s big video screens. The two-way data exchange will allow Uber to monitor EV drivers’ battery levels, so drivers won’t be assigned trips beyond the EV’s available power.