Uber’s New Seatbelt Reminder to Encourage Riders to Buckle Up

Uber has a new safety feature that aims to encourage riders to buckle up.

Starting Tuesday, explains a report from The Verge, riders in the US will receive an alert on their phone at the start of their trip as a reminder to wear their seatbelt.

The concept is simple and automatic: as soon as the driver swipes to begin the ride, a push notification will be sent to the rider’s phone and a subsequent audio alert will emit from the drivers phone.

“Buckling up is one of the most effective ways to help keep yourself and others in the vehicle safe in a crash. By leveraging technology to remind riders to buckle up, we hope to increase seat belt use and potentially save lives,” said Kristin Smith, Uber’s Head of Global Road Safety Policy.

Uber says the audible technology was developed in light of the “troubling statistics along with feedback from drivers.”

A study from the Institute for Highway Safety found 4 out of 5 people do not always buckle up when traveling via rideshare. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals 47 percent of passengers killed during a crash were not wearing seat belts at the time.

“People are less likely to wear a seat belt in the back seat, particularly in ride-hailing vehicles, even though the simple act of buckling up can save your life in the event of a crash,” said Governors Highway Safety Association Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “We’re pleased Uber has taken this proactive step to encourage riders to buckle up, so everyone arrives safely at their destination.”

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