How Uber is monitoring its drivers
UBER has revealed it has been using smartphone technology including gyrometer and GPS data to monitor its drivers more closely.
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UBER has revealed it has been using smartphone technology including gyrometer and GPS data to monitor its drivers more closely.
In a blog post on Uber’s website, Chief Security officer Joe Sullivan said the ride-sharing company has been running a pilot program to verify feedback from customers using smartphone technology.
“Gyrometers in phones can measure small movements, while GPS and accelerometers show how often a vehicle starts and stops, as well as its overall speed,” he wrote.
“If a rider complains that a driver accelerated too fast and broke too hard, we can review that trip using data. If the feedback is accurate, then we can get in touch with the driver. And if it’s not, we could use the information to make sure a driver’s rating isn’t affected.”
Mr Sullivan said uber cares about feedback from customers and drivers, to ensure each trip is completely safely.
“We care a lot about feedback from both riders and drivers, especially when it comes to safety,” he said.
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“It’s why we insist that people in the driver’s seat rate their passengers after each ride, and vice versa. If the rating is low, we ask why. It might be that a driver is unhappy about an unruly rider. Or a rider is worried that her driver was going too fast. Either way, we need to check what actually happened. Mostly it’s about talking to both sides. But increasingly technology can help get to the truth.”
He also said that Uber hopes to use the smartphone technology to improve safety on our roads.
“For example, if gyrometer data shows that drivers are constantly moving their phones around, we can offer them mounts to fix the problem,” he suggested.
“Or we could use technology to determine that the average South Florida Uber driver goes 50MPH and takes 50 minutes to drive from Miami to Fort Lauderdale. For drivers who go much faster on that stretch, we can ask them to curb their enthusiasm.”
“Road safety is a critically important issue. It’s why Uber is always on the lookout for new ways — from the simple to the sophisticated — to do better.”
Originally published as How Uber is monitoring its drivers
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