Sept. 1: App-cab aggregator Uber has rolled out steps to stamp out unregistered drivers from its platform. The US-headquartered company is deleting duplicate driver accounts and verifying images to ensure that only those who register with the platform by clearing screening procedures, including a background check, get to sit at the wheel of an Uber cab.

Complaints have been mounting about profile pictures received by riders on the Uber app often not matching the drivers who arrive to pick them up. "Driver de-duplication is a step to delete multiple accounts created by drivers. It will eliminate account-sharing incidents," Pradeep Parameswaran, head of central operations at Uber India, said in Bangalore.

Announcing a slew of measures to ensure both rider and driver safety, Parameswaran said: "Driver partners often create duplicate accounts. They say they have forgotten their IDs or passwords. We are identifying such duplicate accounts and temporarily blocking them while an in-app message reaches these drivers asking them to verify their accounts by logging in. Those accounts that are not verified will be deleted and barred from use in future. This will ensure that only verified drivers have access to the Uber app."

Uber is also doing realtime ID checks on its drivers. Whenever drivers log in, the app asks them to upload selfies that are screened for face detection and face matching with Microsoft Cognitive Services.

"If they don't pass, we immediately offload the drivers," said Apurva Dalal, head of engineering at Uber India.

The company is using signals from vehicles and the app to understand driving patterns too.