The global ride-hailing company on Wednesday announced an
extensive test of new software that aims to increase safety by analyzing data
from individual drivers and sending them daily reports about things like sudden
acceleration, braking and whether they’re holding their phones when they drive.
Trucking companies and fleet operators collect similar
information, while some auto insurers offer a discount to motorists who
install a data-collection device in their cars. Uber, which is requiring
drivers in several cities to participate, is eager to show that it’s making
safety a priority at a time when some jurisdictions are analizing whether to
impose stricter oversight on ride-hailing businesses.
At the same time, Uber is also trying to ease its
relationship with drivers, who work as independent contractors and in some
cases have sued Uber over pay and working conditions. Earlier this month, Uber
modified its app to give drivers more discretion to reject rides at certain
times and to charge passengers who keep them waiting.
For now, Uber says it isn’t using the new safety program to
penalize drivers — or even to reward good driving habits — although the
software measures some of the same behaviors that the company says are often
cited by passengers when they give drivers a low rating. Repeated low ratings
can lead to drivers being suspended from the service.
Uber drivers already use a smartphone app to book rides and
track their progress via GPS. By adding additional software to the app, Uber
says it can measure a car’s movement and gauge how fast the driver accelerates
or brakes.
The software sends a daily summary to each driver, including
a count of how often the driver has sped up or hit the brakes too abruptly.
San Francisco-based Uber will also use sensors to measure
“phone movement,” which may indicate the driver is clutching the phone while
steering. Since that can be a distraction, Uber says it will notify drivers if
it detects excessive phone movement through the day, with a reminder that it’s
safer to leave the phone in a mounting device. As it tests this program, Uber
may also send passengers an email or text, asking if their driver was holding
the phone.
A third feature will send drivers a notice immediately if
they’re traveling at excessive speed, although for now, the notice will only be
triggered if a car is moving more than 15 miles per hour above the posted limit
on highways. A fourth program will send generic reminders to drivers about the
benefits of taking a rest break.
Uber says it’s testing the new features in a handful of
large cities. About half of its drivers in each test city will get the new
software, so the company can compare their behavior with the half that doesn’t
receive the notifications. After two months, the company says it will evaluate
the results and decide whether to expand the programs.
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