The ridesharing service Uber is determined to let users and prospective users know that it’s a safe way to get around. The latest wrinkle in that effort is an update to the company’s Family Profiles feature called Trip Tracker that keeps customers posted about family members who are using Uber vehicles.
The feature provides automatic notifications and enables a customer to follow along on the map in real time whenever someone is riding under that user’s Uber Family Profile. Up to 10 people can join any Family Profile.
The new feature could be used, for instance, when a child is on the way home from school, or when a loved one is on the way to or from a doctor’s appointment. The capability alerts the user when a family member gets in an Uber car, which route the driver is taking and when the individual has arrived at his destination. Or, it could potentially be used for less wholesome purposes such as tracking a partner who is acting suspiciously.
How To Use It
To set up Trip Tracker, a user must have the latest version of the Uber app and set up a Family Profile, which can be done by navigating to the Uber menu and selecting settings. From there, scroll down and look for the “Add Family Profile” option. Next, select “Create Family Profile” and then add the appropriate contact to this list. An invitation will then be sent to that person. When the Family Profile rider accepts the invite, the individual can request a ride from a handset, using Family Profile as the mode of payment.
For Trip Tracker, the cost of the ride is automatically billed to the user who set up the Family Profile, However, that individual and the person using the Uber will each receive a copy of the receipt.
When one of the registered family members rides with Uber, the manager of the Family Profile receives a detailed list of notifications pertaining to the trip. The Uber app also provides access to live tracking of the trip if the Family Profile admin wants it.
Available Now
The new capability is now functional for all of its global users, Uber said. The feature can be used whether or not the Family Profile manager is on the same continent as the person using the Uber vehicle.
Uber makes a mobile app that lets consumers with smartphones submit trip requests, which is then routed to Uber drivers who use their own vehicles. Uber bills itself as the only global ridesharing company.
The company has been the target of complaints and legal claims related to the safety of using its vehicles. In February, Uber agreed to pay $ 28.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit that disputed the company’s claims that its driver background checks were tops in the industry.
Image Credit: Uber.
