Uber Now Monitors Drivers and Passengers For Behavior

Uber keeps a track of its drivers' movements through the accelerometer installed in many smartphones.

Uber has quietly started to monitor some drivers’ movements in an experimental pilot project based in Texas, in efforts to flag dangerous driving. Abrupt movements in the accelerometer, movement sensor installed in many smartphones, is capable of showing when a driver hits brakes and accelerates too quickly – consistently driving too near of vehicle in front, or tailing.

Uber did not explicitly informed drivers about tracking their movements, but it told its users just when it feels the need for accessing data, after a company complaint is filed. Selected Houston based drivers were monitored for testing since it began last year. 

Uber technologies informed the Guardian it is planning or currently running many experiments designed for influencing the behavior of passengers and drivers in its automobiles, which are operated and owned by freelance contractors. Taken together, the efforts made could contribute to a subtle type of quality control.

The car-sharing business told it is considering sending dashboard phone mounts to driving partners alleged of texting while driving. It has also installed passenger-facing mirrors in the backseats of drivers on evidence it makes passengers to self-moderate their behavior.

The company has put the sound toy of children, known as ‘Bop It’ in the back of vehicles across Charlotte, North Carolina, for dissuading intoxicated riders from disturbing drivers. Uber app is offering on-demand rides employing an unregulated drivers’ network. It succeeded in spreading to 300 cities across the globe and placed amongst the most powerful companies based in Silicon Valley, with a number of supporters, including Benchmark, Greylock and Google Ventures.

Transporter’s application is downloaded many times and it has claimed to provide services to over 1 billion rides. Founded 7 years ago, the organization has turned into the successful technology startup’s platonic ideal and has succeeded in replacing the conventional cab for a large number of consumers. It was finally privately valued at $62.5 billion, which is over the market capitalization of Michigan-based automakers, General Motors and Ford.

Behind all its success, a major stress factor for Uber is that it has to rely on human drivers, which differ from computers in the sense that they are difficult to monitor and unpredictable. The company is looking to resolve this difficulty through its autonomous automobile laboratory based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Carnegie Mellon University’s former roboticists have been hired.

Preventive measures by company are expected to bring a positive change in attitudes of passengers and drivers alike.