(Reuters) - 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 that said 31% of sexual assault incidents were reported by drivers against riders, while 68% were reported against drivers.

From Wednesday, 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 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 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 unless they send it to the company for review.

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.