Uber offers on-demand rides in vehicles that vary in their swankiness. Fares on its lower-priced UberX option are about to go up with a “Safe Rides” fee tacked on to your receipt. The company said in a Thursday night blog post that the $1 fee is its way of demonstrating “continued commitment to safety.” The $1 per ride goes toward background checks, DMV checks, driver safety education, insurance, and the app’s safety features.
UberX rides will now be subject to an additional $1 “Safe Rides Fee” as the company looks to offset rising insurance costs. UberX is the cheaper arm of Uber, the much-hyped transportation startup that lets users easily call for car pickups. Uber tends to call for luxury vehicles, while the low-end UberX is meant to compete with regular taxis as well as other taxi startups like Lyft and Sidecar. “This Safe Rides Fee supports our continued efforts to ensure the safest possible platform for Uber riders and drivers, including an industry-leading background check process, regular motor vehicle checks, driver safety education, development of safety features in the app, and insurance,” the company wrote in a new “What Is The Safe Rides Fee” section of its “Fares & Fees” FAQ on its site.