### Urgent Notice: Uber Drivers and Users Warned Against Offline Trips
**Tijuana, August 30, 2024** – The Sustainable Mobility Institute of the State (Imos) and the ride-sharing giant Uber are urging both drivers and passengers to refrain from conducting trips outside of the official Uber app.
Jorge Alberto Gutiérrez Topete, the General Director of IMOS, emphasized that passengers who opt for rides not registered within the app place themselves at significant risk. This is because authorities find it difficult to trace trip details or gather data when such rides go unrecorded.
“Only trips booked through the official Uber app are covered by comprehensive insurance, which includes medical expenses for users, driver partners, and affected third parties in case of traffic accidents,” Topete said.
Cecilia Román, Uber’s Safety Communications Manager for Mexico, highlighted that rides scheduled within the app are supported by technology that records trip details. “Driver partners have access to over twenty safety features in the Uber app. These include sharing trip details with trusted contacts, automated for all trips if desired; encrypted audio recording; a 911 call button; and a 24/7 support line,” Román stated.
Recently, Uber introduced a ‘Safety Center’ for driver partners, easily accessible through a blue shield icon on the app’s map screen. In addition, in May, Uber announced that the encrypted video recording feature is available for drivers in all cities where the app operates within the country.
Integration with state emergency services is another critical feature, highlighted by the IMOS director. When a user or driver calls 911 through the app, the Center for Command, Control, Communications, and Computing (C5) can access real-time location and trip details, enabling a rapid response.
Both IMOS and Uber reiterated their warnings against external trips, as these excursions do not benefit from the app’s technological safeguards, including GPS tracking and security processes.
### Secondary Article: Global Surge in Ride-Sharing Safety Concerns
The warnings from Uber and IMOS in Tijuana resonate globally as ride-sharing safety becomes an increasingly pressing issue. Cities worldwide are grappling with how to protect passengers and drivers from potential dangers associated with trips arranged outside official ride-sharing platforms.
For instance, recent reports from *XYZ News Platform* reveal that several ride-sharing users in major cities such as New York and London have fallen victim to scams and safety incidents after arranging trips outside of the official app. Authorities in these cities are now working with ride-sharing companies to enhance safety measures and educate users on the importance of sticking to official platforms.
In another related incident, a ride-sharing driver in *National City, USA* was reported missing after picking up a fare arranged through a third-party service. Local law enforcement has yet to trace the driver’s movements due to the lack of official ride data, underscoring the risks highlighted by IMOS and Uber.
Ride-sharing platforms globally are continuously rolling out new safety features. For example, *ABCD News* reported that Uber is piloting real-time ID checks for drivers, ensuring that only verified individuals pick up riders. Meanwhile, another major provider, Lyft, has enhanced its background check processes and integrated similar emergency response features as Uber.
These concerted efforts underscore the critical importance of conducting rides within sanctioned apps, leveraging the built-in safety protocols designed to protect all involved.