How do you get home from a night out, get to the train station or airport quickly? These questions have certainly been asked by everyone at some point. Most often, taxis or operators Bolt, Uber or Free Now come with a solution to such problems. However, are rides by app safe? In today’s article, we explain what to do in an emergency situation.
The disadvantages and dangers of the early days of Uber and Bolt
App-ordered taxis have become one of the more popular forms of transport. Unlike traditional fares, Uber, Bolt and Free Now attract with their extremely attractive prices, easy accessibility and the fact that they are flexible. However, they have their dark side.
When these transport companies entered the market, they were not bound by the same rules as traditional taxi drivers. This led to serious omissions. Popular Uber drivers were not vetted, vehicles drove unmarked and no one exercised any control over this. This was a straightforward path to social disaster, with women being the main victims.
It turned out that the transport app was an easy tool for sexual assault. Services began to receive more and more reports reporting rape or acts of harassment committed by drivers.
Strengthening control and security
Although such atrocious incidents also occur today, the situation is definitely better. Passenger protection has become a priority for service providers such as Uber. Safety regulations have also been increased with the introduction of a vetting process for drivers.
In order to provide carriage services on the app , one must be 18 years of age, have had a driver’s licence for a minimum of one year and provide a criminal record. Furthermore, an identity document is a requirement . Candidates also undergo a medical examination and psychological tests. The final stage is verification of the driver’s identity at the company’s premises.
The introduction of such restrictions has helped to increase passenger safety. However, it has not solved the problem entirely.
Innovations to improve passenger safety
Driver verifications during recruitment are not the only solution that has been implemented to ensure a smooth journey for customers. Each of the ride ordering platforms has introduced new features to improve passenger protection.
Ride sharing
The first of these is real-time ride location sharing. In both Uber and Bolt, a passenger can share details of their journey, such as the vehicle registration number and current location, with relatives or friends. This allows trusted people to monitor the route of the ride in real time, adding to the sense of security.
Ride Check
Uber has also introduced Ride Check, which automatically detects prolonged, unexpected downtime during a ride. This system can independently contact the passenger to confirm that a break is planned. If the response is negative or not forthcoming, the app offers options such as calling emergency services directly or contacting support.
Recording features
Uber and Bolt have also introduced the ability to record audio or video during a ride. In Uber, in-car cameras integrated into the app are mainly for driver safety, but also add a layer of protection for passengers.
In Bolt, the audio recording function is only available during the ride and is controlled by the passenger. The footage can only be accessed by selected members of the Bolt support team if an incident is reported.
Identity verifications
In addition, both platforms have verification systems in place that require drivers to take a selfie before starting. This is compared to a profile picture to confirm the identity of the person driving.
Uber has also introduced pin code ride verification, where both driver and passenger must confirm their ride with the appropriate code displayed in the app. However, this option is nothing mandatory and additional settings are needed to use it .
Ratings and comments
Another important feature is the rating and commenting system. After each ride, passengers can describe their experience and leave a comment, which is then monitored by the companies. Drivers with low ratings or negative comments are subjected to additional vetting, and this can even result in removal from the platform.
Women for women
Platforms have introduced an additional service for the safety of ladies, in which the vehicle will be driven by female drivers. This provides an extra level of comfort for women who have already had unpleasant experiences with rides or are concerned about doing so in the future.
Emergency phone
In case of an emergency, both platforms have an emergency call implemented. In Uber, passengers can use this feature to directly send location data and other relevant information to the relevant services via the SMS 112 system. Bolt offers similar solutions through its support tab.
Bottom line – safety in Uber and Bolt
Despite the initial security challenges, both platforms – Uber and Bolt – have significantly increased protection measures for their passengers and drivers. With the implemented features, rides have become safer and each passenger has a number of tools at their disposal, which can help in case of unexpected situations or threats. Keep these in mind before starting any journey!