Uber unveils new security measures following the murder of a student

April 18, 2019, 12:31 GMT / Update April 18, 2019, 13:07 GMT

By Stephanie Gosk, Conor Ferguson and Scott Stump

Encouraged by the murder of a student in South Carolina, Uber offers new features that will protect runners.

In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Tony West, Uber's legal and security manager, said the company's application would trigger an alert for motorcyclists to check the license plate, the make and model of the vehicle, as well as the name and photo of the vehicle. the driver – to confirm that it is the right person who takes them. West said the Uber application would also display new security notifications.

The changes come a little over two weeks after the murder of Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old University of South Carolina student, who was last seen on March 29 and was riding in a car that she thought she was Uber's conduct.

His body was then found in a wooded area 65 km away. The driver of the car, Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, is facing charges of kidnapping and murder.

"We are heartbroken by what happened," West told NBC News in an interview broadcast on Thursday at TODAY. "For us, it reminds us that we must do everything in our power to raise the level of security."

The South Carolina House of Representatives passed the Carpool Security Act Samantha Josephson on April 9, requiring carpool drivers like Uber and Lyft to display light signs in their vehicles. The bill must now be approved by the Senate of South Carolina.

This is not the first time that fake Uber drivers have become a problem. Three women in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against the company alleging that they had been sexually assaulted by men posing as Uber drivers in front of bars and clubs, which led to questions about whether the company had done enough to warn runners that men posing as Uber drivers.

Uber 's response to Samantha Josephson' s death was to create a new warning system that will be deployed Thursday in South Carolina, and then in the rest of its user base in the coming days. .

"In the app, when you have ordered your Uber, you will receive on your phone more persistent and more frequent notifications, push notifications, which will remind you to check your ride," said West.

When you open the app for the first time, a banner at the bottom says "check your ride every time". After ordering a ride, users will receive a second warning to check the driver's license plate, car details and photo. A third notification will then appear before the driver arrives – this one a push alert – again reminding the motorcyclist to check and make sure the ride is correct.

The company announced that it will also collaborate with universities across the country to create dedicated on-campus and off-campus gathering areas and a voucher program allowing students to be subsidized at times when other ways to get in at home are limited or unavailable.

Kelly Nantel, Vice President of Communications and Advocacy for the National Safety Council, said she supports the new measures.

"The more information you give your customers, the better," said Nantel. "As the number of journeys increases, I think it's very important that drivers have confidence in the safety of the vehicle, but also in their safety." I think these are steps that go into the right direction for the sector. "

West acknowledged that people sometimes use the application while intoxicated. He added that the company had taken this into account when designing the new features.

But even with all the new alerts, West said, it's critical that riders ask drivers a specific question before boarding their car. "It has become a second nature every time we get into a car to buckle up," he said. "Before getting into a car, it must be second nature to ask," Hey, who are you here to recover? "

In the interview, West asked if Uber would take steps to make his vehicles stand out more clearly, just as New York taxis are only available in certain colors and have medallions. "There have been a lot of ideas that have come up in the last few weeks," said West. "The technology itself is a great tool to ensure you ride in the right Uber vehicle."

Uber unveils the new security features at the same time as it prepares to go public. West acknowledged that the company is working on an initial public offering and said that Uber would implement the new alert system for reasons that go beyond its results.

"Is security a business imperative, yes, but is it the right thing to do, yes," said West. "And it's important for businesses to see more and more that by doing the right thing, they're meeting their business imperative."

Uber offers service users a list of security tips, including:

– Ask for a walk in and wait as long as possible before going out to get in the walk.

– Check the license plate, the make and model of the car and the driver's photo that appear in the application.

– Ask the driver to confirm your name before taking the car by asking: "Who are you here to recover?"

– Sit in the back seat so that you can easily get out on both sides and leave a gap between you and the driver.

– Share the status of your trip with a friend or family member.

– Trust your instinct and, if you feel you are in danger, call 911 using the emergency button located in the app, which can also provide your location in real time and details of your trip to share with the regulator.