New safety and personalization features are being rolled out for the ride-share application Lyft, empowering drivers to handle both positive and negative interactions. Riders now have the option to favorite drivers they appreciate, and the app will aim to pair them with these drivers for future journeys. Favorited drivers will receive notifications and get priority access to upcoming ride requests. Furthermore, Lyft now permits riders to block drivers, improving control over unwelcome experiences.

Lyft remarked, “Our mission is to connect and serve — and that begins with safety. The addition of favorite drivers is a segment of our ongoing dedication to making Lyft the safest mode of transportation while equipping you with the necessary tools to feel secure.”

These personalization features are part of a newly established safety hub, which offers options like in-vehicle audio recording, PIN verification, and app check-ins throughout rides. Preferences for favoriting and blocking can be accessed in the “Matching” section of the safety hub.

Ride-share companies have recently been concentrating on user autonomy. On July 23, Uber launched the Women Preferences feature, which enables female users and drivers to opt for same-gender rides. This feature is currently undergoing testing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit. Lyft introduced a comparable feature, Women+ Connect, in 2023, allowing riders to prioritize matches with women and nonbinary drivers, developed in collaboration with the Human Rights Campaign and It’s On Us. Both Uber and Lyft have also unveiled tailored experiences for older drivers, including user-friendly interfaces, family tracking, and Medicare payment options.

Lyft’s new features will start being implemented in selected areas today, with a complete rollout in the U.S. and Canada by the end of August.