Photo Credit: Uber
In 15 cities in the United States, Uber is testing a new procedure for verifying riders with the goal of establishing trust and dependability for both riders and drivers.
Riders who have been verified will have a blue checkmark visible on their account in the Uber app. This is to provide reassurance to Uber drivers that the riders are indeed who they claim to be.
According to Uber, they will verify a rider’s account by comparing the information provided during signup with third-party databases. If there is sufficient information already available, users may be automatically granted verification.
In order to ensure the accuracy of information, riders may be asked to provide a government identification.
The driver will notice a checkmark next to the passenger’s initial name and travel plan upon beginning the trip.
According to Uber’s head of safety Roger Kaiser, there has been a high demand from drivers nationwide to enhance rider verification. To address this concern, a new verification process and a verified rider badge have been implemented, which are crucial measures in ensuring drivers feel more secure while driving.
Uber trips do not necessarily require verification, however, the company cautions that passengers without verification may experience delays or slower service as drivers may give priority to those who have been verified.
Uber has intentions to increase the reach of the program to additional cities within the upcoming months.
This rider verification pilot is currently live in Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Fargo, ND; Lancaster, PA; Miami, FL; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; Peoria, IL; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; and St. Louis, MO, in the US, with plans to expand to more cities in the coming months.
