Can Uber drivers see where you’re going?
The other day, I took an Uber to a faraway location, completely out of my way. I realized that almost every Uber driver canceled my request.
It made me wonder, do Uber drivers see your destination before accepting it?
Can Uber drivers see where you’re going?
In the past, Uber drivers couldn’t see a passenger’s destination until they responded to and accepted the ride request. However, in different parts of the world, Uber is under increasing pressure to give their drivers more control over the process. This means that now (at most ride-sharing locations that use Uber), drivers can visit the destination of your ride request before accepting the job.
This article explores the availability of passenger information for Uber drivers: what they have seen in the past, how the information has changed, and what this means for both drivers and passengers.
Why can’t Uber drivers see where passengers are going?
Uber never gave their drivers access to passenger destinations because they feared that drivers would cancel ride requests if they weren’t happy with the requested final destination or the length of the trip.
A typical example would be a rider requesting an extremely short drive to avoid bad weather, or an airport trip when the traveler’s accommodation is very close to the airport. In these cases, drivers know they will only be charged a small fee.
Drivers who prefer short rides (and want to avoid long ride requests) also don’t have control over this aspect of their service.
What Uber does allow to happen, however, is that when drivers receive a request for a long-distance trip, they also receive a “warning” (generated by Uber’s platform) that the trip is expected to take 45 minutes or more. No precise details on the length of the trip were provided until the request was accepted.
Drivers can then decline the request without penalty, or accept it because they are willing to invest the extra time and distance. The process looks a bit like this:
- When drivers are ready to drive, they tap “Start,” and the app will begin looking for requests from nearby riders.
- The driver receives the request (and, if applicable, a “Long Ride” notification). Drivers will only be able to see more ride details if they have Uber Pro Gold status.
- The driver accepts or declines the request.
- If accepted, rivers can navigate to their riders in any way they choose. The driver app provides navigation options.
- Once the passenger is picked up, the driver slides the Start Ride button. At this point, the driver will see full details of the destination and distance, and can navigate to the destination in any way they or your passengers want.
- After arriving at the destination, the driver slides the button to complete the trip.
Read: Do Uber drivers make more at night?
Can Uber drivers now see where passengers are going?
Back in 2021, Uber had allowed Uber drivers in the United States (California) to see a passenger’s destination before picking up and accepting jobs. However, this change to the app was short-lived, and Uber went back to its previous model.
After that, many Uber drivers (in many countries) became more and more demanding because they wanted to see the final destination of the trip before accepting the job.
Then in July 2022, Uber in India announced that “its drivers will be able to see the final destination of passengers before they accept a ride”.
Uber reportedly believes the feature will hopefully reduce cancellations after booking a ride, a move that will “increase transparency” and “reduce driver frustration.”
The move follows feedback the ride-hailing app has received from its National Drivers Advisory Council, which was launched in March 2022 to facilitate two-way dialogue between Uber and drivers in six metropolitan cities. to solve key issues.
Additionally, in the US, Uber announced that “drivers across the US will be able to see exactly how much they will earn and where they will go before accepting a ride.”
This is very welcome news for Uber drivers who have been working hard for years.
Uber also increased fares and delivery surcharges in March to help offset rising fuel prices, and hopes these additions to the driver platform will help the company retain existing drivers and attract new ones.
Read: Can you pay cash for Uber?
Can Uber Drivers See Your Destination Better?
Uber drivers have long seemed to want the ability to see a passenger’s destination before accepting a request. Drivers report that the feature gives them more control over their schedules, is safer, more transparent, and allows them to provide better customer service.
Drivers cannot always comply when faced with requests for unexpectedly long rides. There are many legitimate reasons for this, including scheduling conflicts, personal safety, personal commitments, and financial reasons.
Drivers don’t like canceling ride requests back One is accepted and the rider is already in the car. Dealing with customer frustration (or even aggression) should not be part of anyone’s daily routine.
A more transparent model allows a driver to immediately deny a ride, leaving the request undisturbed and opening up for another driver who has been forewarned to accept a longer (or shorter) distance.
Riders know that when their ride request is accepted, the driver knows exactly what happened and doesn’t need to cancel the ride.
This means passengers are sometimes unable to get a ride, a common problem during times of high demand. However, there are always solutions available, even if that requires changing destinations, times or even ride-sharing companies.
Read: Do Uber drivers prefer short trips or long trips?
summarize
Uber drivers used to not know the destination of your ride request unless they held a specific driver status or your ride was long, and the driver received a vague warning that the upcoming ride might take some time.
Currently, however, in most parts of the world, Uber allows all drivers to view ride details before accepting them.
It’s a welcome change for just about any driver who likes to have more control over their driving schedule.
