Uber to use alerts to remind riders to buckle up

FILE PHOTO: An Uber advertisement is seen behind travelers exiting the baggage claim area at the United Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) during the holiday season as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Omicron variant threatens to increase case numbers in Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 22, 2021. REUTERS/Bing Guan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ride-sharing company Uber Technologies plans to begin reminding passengers to wear seat belts by pinging driver phones and sending riders messages amid a spike in U.S. traffic deaths.

Uber told Reuters its new feature that launches Tuesday aims to alert riders to buckle up via a distinctive chime from the driver’s phone and a simultaneous push notification to the rider’s phone.