Uber introduced an in-app emergency button that had been tested in some other American cities in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The safety feature will deliver vital information automatically to 911 call operators. Los Angeles is the largest city to get it so far, the company said in a release on Wednesday.
When a Uber user calls 911 using the emergency button in the Uber app, the ride-hailing company will automatically send 911 dispatchers the user's name, location, details on the Uber vehicle they are riding in and who is driving.
"Every second counts in an emergency, and we want to make sure our users get help quickly with accurate information if faced with an emergency situation," local media quoted Nirveek De, who is in charge of Uber's safety product division, as saying.
Ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft have faced challenges in rider safety. Uber said the safety feature aims to protect riders and drivers by allowing the 911 call centers to dispatch help as soon as possible.
The safety feature had been tested earlier this year in Denver and is already available in 30 U.S. cities, including Phoenix, Nashville and Washington, D.C.
