National: Uber has introduced a range of new features aimed at improving earning opportunities, flexibility and safety for its driver partners in India. Announced at the third edition of Uber Pragati, the initiatives focus on simplifying the onboarding process, reducing interruptions during work, strengthening safety measures and creating additional income opportunities for drivers.
The company also highlighted the impact of its safety technology, including ambulance assistance during emergencies and encrypted in-app video recordings that have helped establish facts in disputed incidents.
Aditya Kapoor, Director – Supply Operations, Uber India & South Asia, said the company aims to remain a preferred platform for flexible earning opportunities by giving drivers greater control over their work, stronger safety protections and more ways to generate income.
Greater Flexibility and Simpler Onboarding
Among the key announcements is Flexible Drive Pass, which offers subscription options ranging from six hours to 180 days. The facility is designed to cater to both part-time and full-time drivers, allowing them to choose options suited to their working schedules.
Uber has also introduced Quickstart, a WhatsApp-based onboarding facility that enables drivers to join the platform through a messaging application they already use regularly.
Another feature, Earn First, Pay Later, allows eligible drivers to continue accepting cash trips even when their platform balance is exhausted, subject to an additional credit limit. The facility is intended to reduce interruptions to their working day.
To make communication easier, drivers can now send voice notes to riders through Uber’s in-app chat. A simplified Driver App has also been introduced, bringing earnings information, trip details and important updates together for easier access.
New Safety Measures for Drivers and Riders
Safety remains a key focus of Uber’s latest initiatives. Through its 24-hour Safety Line, in partnership with Dial 4242, the company now facilitates ambulance assistance following emergencies.
According to Uber, the service was used on 25 occasions in less than four months, helping drivers and riders access medical assistance after accidents.
The company has also highlighted Record My Ride, an encrypted video-recording feature designed to provide a clearer account of events during a trip. Uber said the technology has already helped clarify a disputed incident involving a driver and a rider, with the recording assisting police in establishing the facts.
Another initiative, Safety Content Flag, is designed to identify potentially inappropriate language in real-time chats and prompt riders to reconsider messages before sending them. Drivers who receive inappropriate messages can cancel eligible trips without affecting their cancellation statistics.
Uber’s in-app Driver Safety Hub brings several safety tools and support options together in one place. It also enables drivers to keep selected protections, including audio recording and trip-sharing, activated automatically.
More Earning Opportunities Beyond Regular Rides
Uber is expanding opportunities for drivers beyond conventional passenger trips, particularly for those operating two-wheelers.
Uber Bike Intercity enables drivers to undertake trips between neighbouring towns and cities, with Delhi–Meerut cited as an example. Through Uber Direct, bike drivers can fulfil delivery orders for businesses, while Uber Parcel allows them to deliver personal packages within cities.
For participating car drivers, Uber Pet creates an additional earning opportunity by allowing them to accept riders travelling with their pets.
The company is also continuing its Refer & Earn programme, which rewards existing drivers for bringing new earners onto the platform.
Focus on Flexible and Safer Work
The latest announcements reflect Uber’s effort to address drivers’ practical concerns, from onboarding and daily expenses to personal safety and alternative income sources.
By combining flexible subscription options, simplified digital tools, emergency assistance and new service categories, the company aims to make its platform more accessible and rewarding for its driver partners across India.
