Safety is at the core of the Uber experience. We’ve led the industry in developing new technology and are constantly exploring innovative ways to help keep everyone who uses Uber safe. 

We first introduced our Safety Toolkit back in 2018, setting a new standard for safety with an in-app emergency button. Since then, we’ve added the ability to seamlessly share your trip status with loved ones, verify your ride with a unique PIN code, text 911 in many cities, and much more. With so many safety features available in one place, it is time for an upgrade.

We’re excited to share our new Safety Toolkit – featuring brand-new options, designed to give easy access to the help you need when you need it. 

The new Safety Toolkit

We’re making accessing in-app safety help even easier and clearer in the new Safety Toolkit. After tapping on the safety shield, riders will see large tiles with all the safety help options available in their area. Our goal is to streamline access to and visibility of our most critical safety features— because in an emergency, every second counts. 

In the Safety Toolkit, riders and drivers have access to the emergency button and can report safety incidents to us directly while on a trip. They can also easily share ride information with friends and loved ones and access some of the latest safety information from Uber. 

Live Help from an ADT Safety Agent

Not every situation rises to the level of an emergency, and users have asked us for an option for those less critical moments that don’t require police, fire, or medical assistance. We’ve partnered with ADT, America’s most trusted home security brand, to bring our users the support of an ADT safety expert. Users nationwide can now get help, via phone or text, from a live safety agent from ADT in the new safety toolkit. 

We’ve been working with ADT so that when a call or text exchange is requested, the agent can monitor an ongoing trip, stay in contact through the duration of the trip, and even reach out to 911* on the user’s behalf with key trip details; like the vehicle’s make and model, license plate number, and GPS location. We hope this new feature will give users additional peace of mind knowing that help is available right in the app for any safety situation.

Text to 911 Expansion

After riders and drivers told us they would like the option to discreetly contact 911 while on a trip, we added the ability to text 911. In 2019, we first rolled it out in

 Los Angeles, Minnesota, and Indiana. We are now expanding text to 911 to nearly 60% of the US, including all of California and New York City, where the technology is in place for 911 centers to receive text messages.

When someone uses the text to 911 feature, the Uber app will pre-populate the initial message with vehicle details, location, and destination information, so you can quickly communicate that information to emergency dispatchers. While calling 911 is always preferred by first responders, texting can be a crucial way for users to request help discreetly, and we look forward to expanding this feature as more states and cities implement the technology. 

There are more than ten ways to report a safety incident to Uber.  Thankfully, our Safety Report shows that the vast majority of trips on the Uber platform end normally, but in the event that anyone using Uber is uncomfortable or needs assistance, we want to provide multiple ways to get help through the app.

 

 

*ADT’s ability to reach out to 911 in an emergency is available in all 50 US states and DC, except Milwaukee, WI. ADT will not be able to reach out to 911 directly in Milwaukee due to local ordinance requirements. Users will still have the option to text or call 911 directly in the Uber app. ADT terms of service for this program can be found here. By using these services, you agree to ADT’s terms of service.