New Uber safety feature allows riders to call emergency services from the app

Uber has announced the launch of a variety of new safety features on the taxi service app in the UK, including the ability to call the emergency services from the app by pressing on a single button if in need.

The goal of the new safety measures, according to a statement released by the company, is to “increase transparency, accountability, and peace of mind for all customers who use the app.”

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to call the emergency services, you'll be able to do so by pressing on a red button that says "Call 999".

Before you place the call, the app will provide you with any useful information that you may need when speaking to the emergency services, including your real-time GPS location and the make, model and license plate of the car that you've been assigned to.

In addition to the emergency services button, people using Uber will also be able to create a list of ‘Trusted Contacts’ on the app with whom they can immediately share their trip details.

You'll be able to select five contacts from your phone to include on your list of Trusted Contacts, who you can then share your trip details with by pressing on a single button.

Furthermore, after a journey has been completed, the exact locations where you’ve been picked up and dropped off won't appear in the driver’s trip log.

Instead, it will simply state the general areas in which you were collected and dropped off, with the aim of providing customers with a greater sense of security.

The company’s nine new safety features are going to be rolled out in phases across more than 40 towns and cities in the UK over the next few weeks.

The Independent has been told that the features are likely to become available as early as next week.

“With more than 15 million trips on the Uber app every day, there is nothing more important than the safety of riders and drivers,” says Sachin Kansal, Uber’s global head of safety products.

“The rollout of these new safety features across Europe is the next step in making sure that we’re helping everyone stay safe and connected, wherever you might be.”

All of the features will be compiled in the app’s ‘Safety Centre’, which can be accessed by pressing the shield icon on the bottom right half of the screen.

In addition to providing customers using Uber with more privacy and security, the new measures will also encourage drivers to be more responsible on the road.

The updated app will include speed alerts, which will inform Uber and Uber Eats drivers if they’re travelling over the speed limit.

Last month, Uber announced that it would be updating its community guidelines in Australia and New Zealand so that people whose ratings fall below four stars could be banned from using the app.

Amanda Gilmore, country manager of Uber New Zealand, explained that the changes have been introduced following on from feedback that the company has received from its drivers about unruly passengers.

“This change is really about setting good standards of behaviour, and creating a mutual level of respect between drivers and riders,” she said.

Earlier this year, Uber revealed that it would be introducing new measures in light of safety concerns in the UK, stating that it would be taking a more “proactive” approach when reporting serious incidents to the police.