My poor old pea brain is exhausted!
Last week I re-opened Uber (haven't used it since I was in NYC 5 years ago!!). Of course, they want to verify and yada yada yada. I hate when they send a text to my phone while I am using the phone for the app. Often I am unable to remember the six digits and have to write them down and then enter. I know, I know ... first world problems.
I drove back to retrieve them and they asked if I would drop them off at the Mall for back to school shopping. And they would take the bus home. Little did I know, the state highway between us and there was CLOSED all weekend. Yes, I have GPS which we used but instead of taking 15-20 minutes, it was an hour because everyone else was on the side streets trying to get there. Another hour to get back home.
They had great success, mainly shoes as they buy second hand clothing. Uber has built in some great safety features on Uber Teen!
PIN Verification:
Before a teen can start their ride, they must provide the driver with a unique PIN, which the driver then enters into the app to confirm the ride.
RideCheck:
This feature uses sensors and GPS data to detect unexpected route deviations, stops, or early trip endings, and alerts the teen and their parent/guardian if such events occur.
Live Trip Tracking:
Parents can monitor the teen's ride in real-time, receiving notifications when the ride starts, ends, and when the teen arrives at their destination.
Enhanced Driver Vetting:
Uber for Teens only utilizes experienced, highly-rated drivers who have passed thorough background checks, according to Uber.
On-Trip Audio Recording:
Teens can opt to have their rides automatically recorded, with the audio encrypted and stored on their phone. The recording can only be accessed by Uber if an incident report is filed.
Emergency Assistance:
The app provides an in-app emergency button for contacting 911 and a safety incident reporting line.
So Gramma is a happy camper. I don't like him taking the bus after dark. I'm happy to pay for my peace of mind
I can see how Uber would be a good option for kids to provide rides when parents and grandparents can't. Sounds like Uber had built in safety protocols that protect the kids and their drivers from he said/she said situations.
ReplyDeleteIt felt good to know about theses safety precautions. He called me Saturday night at 7:30 to ask his Dad if he could spend the night with a buddy. We were in the middle of pizza and movie night (they were camping Fri so we had it Sat). He then CALLED me to ask if he could use Uber. YES! Best $15 I ever spent!.
DeleteI would think Teen Uber is perhaps safer, there have been concerns about how these sites Vet their Drivers becoz there have been Victims. So, I'm glad to hear of these safeguards for Minors.
ReplyDeleteYes, and I've been reading a lot about a woman to woman Uber service. NYT said: From 2017 to 2022, a total of 400,181 Uber trips resulted in reports of sexual assault and sexual misconduct in the United States, court documents show.
DeleteUber needs to enact their new service for women.