Uber Technologies Inc. today rolled out a number of new safety features, as ride-hailing services are in the headlights after a passenger was murdered by a driver of the partially Uber-owned Didi Chuxing Technology Co. last month.

The changes offer enhanced protection for riders and drivers alike, starting with a new feature that is said to use artificial intelligence and the accelerometer and GPS on a drivers phone to detect car crashes.

Called Ride Check, the feature will automatically ask drivers and passengers if they are OK in the event the feature believes a crash may have occurred. If it has, it prompts both to access Uber’s Safety Toolkit, which includes the option for 911 assistance. An Uber staff member will also follow up with a phone call to make sure everyone is safe.

For drivers, the new changes include a driver emergency button that allows them quick access to a menu of safety features, including map data on their current location and the ability to contact 911. In some cities, the 911 feature includes the ability to share key details such as location, license plate and the make and model of the car directly to a dispatcher.

Under the title of “Digital Safety,” passenger data gets attention with an address anonymization feature that obscures specific address details from drivers after a trip has been completed and also adds the option for riders to order an Uber from a cross street rather than a specific address.

The app is also getting a security upgrade in the form of added support for two-factor authentication. Although it’s not compulsory, Uber riders will have the option to use the feature every time they log into their account. The 2fa support itself comes with different options, including support for text messages along with Google Authenticator, Authy and Duo.

Didi Chuxing, still reeling from the passenger murder last month, has committed to spending $20.5 million on beefing up its customer service, Reuters reported. The company was heavily criticized by many, including the Chinese government, after it was revealed that a previous customer had reported to Didi that the driver had taken her to a remote place and followed her after she left the car.

Didi, which counts SoftBank Group Corp., Apple Inc. and Uber among its investors, is reported to be cooperating with a formal inquiry into its practices by China’s Ministry of Transport.

Photo: freestocks/Flickr