Uber Expands Text-to-911, Adds Ability to Connect to Live ADT Agent
Feeling uncomfortable in your Uber? The ride-hailing app has teamed up with ADT to connect riders with agents who can monitor your trip.
The service, which is intended for non-emergency situations, will link Uber riders to ADT agents who can call or text you when you're feeling uncomfortable. A human will monitor your trip, and remain in contact throughout. If necessary, however, ADT can contact 911 on your behalf and relay information like your car's make and model, license plate number, and GPS location.
In the app's safety section, tap Contact safety agent to connect.
"We hope this new feature will give users additional peace of mind knowing that help is available in the app for any safety situation," says(Opens in a new window) Rebecca Payne, lead safety product manager for Uber.
Uber notes that ADT will not be able to call 911 for you if you're in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, "due to local ordinance requirements."
If you want to contact emergency personnel yourself, Uber has expanded the ability for riders to text 911 to "nearly 60% of the US"—including all of California and New York City. This comes three years after it rolled out the ability to text 911 in Los Angeles, Minnesota, and Indiana.
When riders in those areas opt to text 911, Uber automatically opens your phone's messaging app and loads information like vehicle details, location, and destination. It's up to you to type out your emergency and press send.
Calling 911 is preferred by first responders, but there are some instances in which texting is the best (if not only) option for discreetly requesting help. "We look forward to expanding this feature as more states and cities implement the technology," according to Payne.
In June, Uber released(Opens in a new
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