Uber has revealed a remarkably sensible approach to help ensure passengers don’t accidentally hop into the wrong car at night.
The ride-sharing giant is sending out chameleonic Beacons to drivers in some cities, which will light up to match match a colour shown within the passenger’s app.
Beacons are affixed to the windshield and are shaped like the company’s logo to further reduce the chances of confusion, even if passengers have enjoyed a festive tipple too many.
Uber says the Beacons will last several evenings before requiring a recharge and can be easily removed when drivers are off duty.
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Beacons will only be available in the UK in Newcastle which, given the Daily Mail moral outrage-level of booze consumed upon the Tyne, is probably a wise choice.
Uber drivers and riders in the US will see Beacons in Miami, Denver and Nashville initially. The company said it wants to issue Beacons as standard in 2017.
The move follows the launch of a similar scheme by rival firm Left, which isn’t yet available in the UK.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
