By Pascal Oparada
Social Media/Tech Reporter
Ride-hailing app, Uber, has added new features that allow riders to request that they do not want to chat with drivers while on transit.
The ‘Quiet Mode’ feature is free and would be available in the U.S. on Tuesday but only on Uber Black and Uber SUV premium rides.
Users can select ‘Quiet Preferred’, ‘Happy to Chat’ or leave the setting at ‘No Preference’.
Uber did extensive research of drivers’ perceptions in the three months it took to develop the feature. But due to employment laws, it can’t actually require that drivers abide by user requests for quiet, though they might get negative ratings if they ignore them.
Uber’s product Manager, Ayidim Ghajar said: “It’s not mandatory. The driver is an independent contractor. We’re just communicating the rider’s preference. The driver can have that information and do with it what they want.”
The company also rolled out other features like ‘A bags’ option which alerts drivers that a rider has a piece of luggage and allows them to park at an appropriate place in order to put the rider’s luggage in the trunk.
The Temperature control lets them request the car be warm or cold so drivers know whether to crank the air conditioning.
