Uber integrates national helpline number in-app

Uber, the world's largest on-demand ride-sharing company, today announced the integration of the nationwide emergency number 999 in its rider app to enhance rider safety.

In a reinforcement of Uber's commitment towards safety of riders, Uber integrated the government's helpline number in the app, which would prompt riders to dial 999 in case of an emergency.

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How does this work?

-- In the event of an emergency situation during a ride, riders in an Uber can now access an in-app card and press Call Now to connect to the toll free national help desk run by the ICT division of Bangladesh.

-- Once pressed, the rider will be prompted with 999 in their phone dialer.

-- Calling 999 will connect the rider to the government's control room where depending on the nature of the emergency situation, a caller can select '1' for Ambulance; '2' for fire service; '3' for Police; or '0' to speak directly with a government agent.

Commenting on this development, Arpit Mundra, GM-Uber Dhaka, said, "Safety of riders is a priority for us at Uber. We are committed to make rides as safe as possible by leveraging technology. Uber's integration of the emergency number 999 is one such step from us highlighting our absolute commitment to safety at every step - before, during and after every ride."

The introduction of this feature adds to the existing in-built repertoire of safety features in the Uber app. Technologies like Uber provide an incredible opportunity to improve safety of riders and drivers in new and innovative ways — before, during and after every ride.

-- Before a Ride: To ensure a relatively safe, reliable and convenient travel from point A to point B, the Uber app gives you the ability to see your driver's details in advance, including his name, photograph, make of car and the car registration number.

--During a Ride: While on trip, riders can avail the benefit of  GPS tracking and by using the share "my status" option, share their trip details with as many contacts on their phonebook as they want. This allows for the people receiving the message to immediately track the route and location of the vehicle at any point in time during the trip.

In the event of an emergency situation, riders can now access the 999 helpline through the app and connect to the government's helpline representative.

-- After a Ride:  Apart from rating the driver once the trip is complete, riders can go to the Past Trips section in-app and provide feedback on the ride. Our round-the-clock in-app customer support is designed to further improve product and operations, with a core focus to provide specialised support for critical incidents that require immediate attention.

In addition, we are equally conscious about recruiting driver partners with valid documents and background checks. A mandatory soft skill training enables them to offer riders a great experience.

Uber launched in Dhaka in November 2016 and has received an overwhelming response in Bangladesh both from the rider and the driver community. New technology enables Uber to build safety into our service from beginning to end: before a passenger even gets into the car, throughout the journey and after they have reached their destination.