Uber launches its own blue tick program for passengers in 12 cities to verify their identity - amidst concerns for driver safety

Uber has launched a program in 12 cities around the US that will require customers to verify their identities before they can get a ride.

The system will see riders verify their identities using the app so drivers know with certainty what the client looks like and that they 'are who they say they are.'

Most accounts will become verified automatically using details Uber has on file, according to a news release. If verification is not viable, in some cases it may be necessary to upload a government-issued ID.

The pilot program rolled out on Thursday in Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Detroit, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland and St. Louis, an Uber spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

Under the new system, drivers will only see a rider's first name, star rating, trip details, and now, their verified badge.

Heather Childs, chief trust and security officer for Uber, told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday that the ride-sharing platform was responding to the wants of drivers.

'Drivers want to know more about the people who are entering and exiting their vehicle,' she said.

'We want to know that riders are who they say they are, and we have to send a clear message that if you're looking to do harm, Uber is not the place to do it,' she added.

David Lavine, who has been driving for Uber in for eight years, told the newspaper he wasn't sure whether the verification would actually improve safety, but wanted to see it made compulsory for all riders regardless.

'Not everyone is going to take the extra step if they have to, so then you still have people who are not verified and calling rides,' he told the Tribune.

'Maybe the honest people who you didn't have to worry about in the first place. If in a few months we can see that the number of Uber driver-related incidents is down, then that's great, but I don't see the benefit as of now.'

In 2019, Uber rolled out PIN verification. It required riders to tell their drivers a four-digit PIN before they would be allowed to start the trip.

'Strengthening rider verification has been a top request from drivers across the country,' Roger Kaiser, head of safety at Uber, said in a statement.

'This new verification process and verified rider badge are important steps to help provide drivers with more peace of mind while they are out on the road.'

Some riders and drivers will see this verification badge in their app starting today, Uber said. They will receive an email and in-app communications letting them know about this pilot.