entrepreneurship

Uber is rolling out a new feature that it says will help keep both riders and drivers safer.Starting Wednesday, Uber drivers will see when a rider is verified. The company says the verification involved cross-checking a riders account information given at signup, like a name or phone number, against third-party data.If Uber cant validate that information, users can choose to upload a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or a passport. The company says it may also ask for a selfie. Once information is verified, riders will receive a blue verified badge. Uber says the design came in response to driver feedback about wanting to know more about who is getting in their car. The new feature is optional. If users decide not to provide an ID and selfie, you wont get a verified badge, but youll still be able to take rides with Uber.However, because drivers will see a riders verified badge when choosing to accept a trip, if not verified, it may lead to longer ETAs and pickup times.Uber says drivers will only see a riders first name, star rating, verified rider badge and trip details. Additionally, the company is moving forward with a record my ride feature for drivers. Now, drivers in all 50 states have access to this tool, helping to give them an extra layer of protection on their trips. Every recording is encrypted and stored directly on drivers devices. The rideshare giant says no one not Uber, not riders, not drivers can access it unless a driver chooses to send it in for review.