Uber introduces audio seatbelt reminder for its riders across India

The feature prompts riders to ‘buckle in’ at the start of their first five Uber trips and then on every fifth trip.

The driver’s phone will play an audio reminder asking riders to “please use the rear seat belt for your safety”. (File)

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App-cab service provider Uber Tuesday rolled out the ‘Audio Seatbelt Reminder’ feature in its vehicles across the country. The new feature is designed to encourage riders to wear seatbelts.

The feature prompts riders to ‘buckle in’ at the start of their first five Uber trips and then on every fifth trip. Once a rider books an Uber trip and sits inside the vehicle, the driver’s phone will play an audio reminder asking riders to “please use the rear seat belt for your safety”. At the same time, the rider’s phone will receive an in-app push notification reminding them of the same.

In a press release issued Tuesday, Uber quoted Union Minister of State for Road Transport V K Singh as saying, “Over the last few years, India has made progress on improving road infrastructure and network connectivity. It is equally important that we invest in solutions that improve road safety to reduce fatalities caused due to road accidents. Ridesharing companies like Uber have a significant role to play in promoting road safety. The Audio Seatbelt Reminder is a positive step and will encourage seatbelt compliance. We congratulate Uber for its efforts and wish them luck to continue their important work in improving safety on the platform.”

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Speaking about the new feature, Sooraj Nair, Head of Safety Operations, Uber India and South Asia, said: “We, at Uber, believe that our work on safety never stops. We are constantly looking at ways to improve platform safety through tech-enabled features and strengthening support to enhance the experience for both riders and drivers alike. The Audio Seatbelt Reminder is yet another technology-led feature that will further our commitment to making roads safer for all.”

Started in 2010, Uber is available across 125 cities in India.

Notably, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in a report stated that more than 16,000 people died in road accidents in the country in 2021 alone for not wearing seatbelts.

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