Sept 17 (Reuters) - Uber ( UBER ) is rolling out

features that would allow its drivers to see "verified" badges

on customer profiles and record trips on their smartphones

instead of a dashcam, the ride-hailing firm said on Tuesday.

This is expected to improve safety of drivers and comes

against the backdrop of a 2021-22 safety report by Uber ( UBER ) that

said 31% of sexual assault incidents were reported by drivers

against riders, while 68% were reported against drivers.

From Wednesday, Uber ( UBER ) drivers in the U.S. will be able to see

when a customer has undergone additional verification steps with

a "Verified" rider badge visible during a trip request.

Uber ( UBER ) had launched a pilot program in some cities earlier

this year. Majority of riders there are verified, the company

said and its app received fewer complaints about these customers

from drivers.

The company said it has already blocked about 15,000 rider

accounts with fake names.

Uber ( UBER ) will also allow its drivers to record video and audio

during trips using the front camera on their smartphones,

eliminating the need to invest in a dashcam.

All recordings will be encrypted and stored on the drivers'

devices, and cannot be accessed by them or Uber ( UBER ) unless they send

it to the company for review.

Uber ( UBER ) is also piloting an option where drivers can block a

rider if the driver rates the trip 2 or 3 stars, building on its

existing policy of automatically un-matching drivers with riders

any time drivers rate a ride 1 star.