Uber yesterday announced SPOT, a new initiative to make sure drivers and riders experience less hassle finding one another in dark or crowded areas. The technology will allow someone calling for an Uber to designate a specific color so that their driver can easily spot them when arriving at the pickup location.

uber spot

SPOT is the latest experiment in our ongoing effort to make Uber pickups as seamless as possible. When riders and drivers can easily find each other, we’re able to trim down wait times, which is a win for everyone. We hope you’ll have a chance to experience SPOT in the coming weeks.

Beginning exclusively in Seattle, the new program will give Uber drivers a small "SPOT Device," attached to their windshield. When a user requests a SPOT-enabled vehicle, they're asked to pick a specific color within the app while waiting. When the app prompts the rider that the vehicle is driving up, they can take the app out and display their color to the driver, or simply look for their chosen color in the windshield of the car.

The company didn't give any mention if, or when, SPOT would make it to other cities after its test run in Seattle. Those that have yet to do so can download Uber from the App Store for free [Direct Link].

Tag: Uber

Top Rated Comments

Zelmung Avatar
120 months ago
Pretty cool. Last year a girl got in a car she thought was her uber here at Indiana university. She ended up dead and her body was thrown by the lake. This could have prevented that. Good to see uber taking safety precautions
That escalated quickly.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kgee102605 Avatar
120 months ago
Still not interested in Uber. Too much to worry about for too little savings. My life, safety, and security is worth more than saving 2 to 3 bucks for a ride to the airport.

At least if something happens, I can go after the cab company.
I wish people who don't understand how the insurance thing works with Uber would keep their mouth shut instead of spreading lies and rumors.

Here is how it works if you would like to educate yourself. Personal drivers HAVE personal insurance per State law that covers their vehicle and it does 365 days per year just like everyone else on the planet....

Now, whenever they turn the app on and are "working"?? Then Uber's commercial vehicle insurance policy of $1 million applies (and Lyft's policy is the same $1 million coverage too.. its required by the cities and the States you see???).....and covers the vehicle and the passengers.

When the app is off... coverage drops back to the individual drivers' personal insurance. Which is the same insurance that he/she drives around the city everyday with anyway.. No difference.. so if you are worried about a driver hitting you? They could do that quite simply without having a passenger or driving for Uber and it would be exactly the same.

NO personal insurance company is going to cover someone while driving for Uber (that part you at least got right)... however, they DON'T HAVE TO.. because Uber's commercial policy does!! Why? Because it is required by the City and State laws. So to say that Uber and Lyft drivers DO NOT have insurance? Is completely false and nothing more than a similar scare tactic and lie usually spread by butt hurt taxi drivers and/or republican types. It's nearly 2016, technology and the world evolves. Time to get over it and move on. :) And for crying out loud if you've got something to say? Do your research so you at least KNOW the facts and don't sound like a complete idiot. ~Cheers
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mbh1976 Avatar
120 months ago
This is cool, but how about the app just telling me what color the car is that is picking me up?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
snebes Avatar
120 months ago
This is essential in places like SF where ever car is an uber and every uber is a white or silver Prius. I've personally stepped in the wrong uber a bunch of times


South Park, always ahead of the times.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BruiserB Avatar
120 months ago
Yeah, this will make it way easier--with only 6 colors--for nefarious people to stick a similar light in their car and just put up one of the 6 colors. Go cruise down a popular bar area in a major city and just wait for a drunk chick to flag their car down.
It's meant to be a way to quickly pick the car out of a sea of cars. Then you still have the make, model, and license plate info in your app to verify that it is the right car. It's not a substitute for verifying you have the right car. Also the driver should know your name and if they don't you shouldn't get in.

I drive for Über X on weekends and it's fun and interesting. Thanks to those who are quashing the "Über is so scary/unsafe" hysteria. I've had so many passengers tell me how much they like Über because they know who to expect and know the car will come on time, etc. We are insured for $1 million while a passenger is in the car. A passenger can even send a link from the app to a friend so the friend can see their location/progress while they are on the ride, enhancing security further. What cab company offers that?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
unplugme71 Avatar
120 months ago
Still not interested in Uber. Too much to worry about for too little savings. My life, safety, and security is worth more than saving 2 to 3 bucks for a ride to the airport.

At least if something happens, I can go after the cab company.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

apple launch feb 2025 alt

Here Are the New Apple Products We're Still Expecting This Spring

Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring. There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category. M4...
prioritize notifications ios 18 4

Everything New in iOS 18.4 Beta 1

Friday February 21, 2025 1:08 pm PST by
Apple finally released the first beta of iOS 18.4 to developers for testing purposes, and while the beta is lacking some of the Apple Intelligence features we were hoping for, there are some notable new additions. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Priority Notifications - Apple Intelligence There is a new Priority Notifications feature that can show you your most...
Apple iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Announces iPhone 16e With A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence, Pricing Starts at $599

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued. The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
ios 18 4 ambient music

iOS 18.4 Adds New Ambient Music Feature

Friday February 21, 2025 11:06 am PST by
In iOS 18.4, there's a new Ambient Music option that can be added to Control Center. There are four different sound categories, including Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. Each category can be added to Control Center separately, and tapping one plays a random selection of sounds or music from that particular category. You can't choose what's playing from Control Center, but if...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Denies Speculation Surrounding iPhone 16e's Lack of MagSafe

Friday February 21, 2025 8:01 am PST by
Apple has confirmed that its custom-designed C1 modem in the iPhone 16e has nothing to do with the device's lack of MagSafe support, according to Macworld. Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, there was some speculation online about how MagSafe magnets might have interfered with the C1 modem's cellular connectivity performance, and this was considered to be a potential reason for the...
Generic iOS 18

Here's When Apple Will Release iOS 18.4

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch. All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
oppo find n5 fingers

World's Thinnest Foldable Phone Launches in Europe and Asia

Thursday February 20, 2025 8:55 am PST by
Oppo has launched the Find N5, the world's thinnest foldable phone yet. When closed, the book-style foldable measures 8.93mm. That's less than a millimeter thicker than an iPhone 16 Pro, and thinner than the Honor Magic V3, which was the previous record holder. The device is barely thicker than its USB-C port. Indeed, Oppo has suggested that the obstacle to making it any thinner is now "the...