Uber System Update: App Charges Riders For 'Making Drivers Wait' In 4 American States

Uber will extend the system in which drivers can charge riders with a "wait time" fee if more than two minutes are spent waiting for them to get into the car. Some reports also indicate that the ride-hailing company will allow the drivers to specify their direction for pickups to fit in with their own trips. In addition, the drivers will also be allowed to pause ride requests and ask for quick payment.

Uber's calculated fine system, which is based on how long the driver must wait, has been tested in New York already, as well as in Dallas, New Jersey and Phoenix. According to reports, this is different from cancellation charge that ranges from $5 up to $10, depending on which city, which would then be added to to wait fee charge if the driver continued to wait for a no-show.

According to Uber, the system will be extended to several more cities in June, like the Driver Destinations that will allow the drivers to state their destination so that the company will only send trip requests which will be on their way. Other new features will also include ride discounts in which drivers will be allowed to receive 15 percent off per ride for each 10 journeys completed in one week, Value Walk reported.

As explained by Uber product manager Maya Choksi through a blog post, all of these are part of the company's efforts to extend goodwill gestures by providing their drivers with added control over the ride process, while Uber encounters questions over the conditions and terms of those that work for it. Last April,  the company has consented to pay up to $100m to end the legal actions brought in Massachusetts and California over an issue whether drivers must be categorized as independent contractors or employees. The drivers, on the other hand, argued that they must be categorized as employees, thereby, allowing them with benefits.

Although Uber had won the case, they were compelled to make a lot of compromise. According to reports, a similar legal battle in Florida and Illinois is being faced by the company at the moment. Nonetheless, Uber maintains that its working regime provides large benefits to their workers, according to Daily Mail.