PORTLAND, Ore. — Starting Thursday, Uber is launching a new rider verification pilot program to increase driver safety — and Portland is one of the first test cities.
The program is designed to help drivers know who is getting in their vehicle by confirming that riders are who they say they are.
What does the verification process look like?
When riders in Portland open up the Uber app, they might see a blue verified check mark show up next to their name. The blue check mark means that Uber has confirmed your identity.
Most riders will become automatically verified through certain account details like your name or phone number that Uber has cross-checked with a third-party database, the company said.
If a rider does not see a blue verified check mark, it might mean they need to upload a form of government-issued identification, such as a such as a driver's license, passport, or other official documentation in order to become verified.
Why become verified?
Drivers will be able to see if a rider has been verified or not when a ride request pops up and can chose to decline that trip.
“Strengthening rider verification has been a top request from drivers across the country,” said Roger Kaiser, head of safety at Uber. “This new verification process and verified rider badge are important steps to help provide drivers with more peace of mind while they are out on the road."
Uber said the verification process is still kept with privacy in mind. Drivers are only able to see a rider's first name, star rating, trip details and now the verified rider badge.
