As cities reopen and people start moving again, Uber has launched new safety features: Go Online Checklist and Mask Verification.
Before a driver or delivery person can go online, they will be asked to confirm, via a new Go Online Checklist, that they’ve taken certain safety measures and are wearing a mask or face cover. The new technology will verify if the driver is wearing a mask by asking them to take a selfie. After the driver has been verified as wearing a mask, the rider will be informed via an in-app message.
In the United States, Canada, India and most of Europe and Latin America, drivers who are not wearing a mask or face cover will not be able to go online beginning Monday, May 18. This policy will be maintained through the end of June, and then reassessed based on local public health needs.
A similar checklist has also been developed for riders. Before every trip, riders must confirm that they’ve taken precautions like wearing a face cover and washing or sanitizing their hands. They must also agree to sit in the back seat and open windows for ventilation. The maximum suggested number of passengers for an UberX ride has been reduced from four to three.
Drivers are encouraged to cancel trips without penalty if they don’t feel safe, including if the rider isn’t wearing a face cover. If a driver shows up without a mask on, the rider can cancel the trip without penalty, too, and report the issue to Uber via the app.
