Uber touts safety features to reassure riders

August 21, 2017 in Business, Companies, Transport, U by Editor

August 21— Uber riders have been advised to cross-check the vehicle’s registration number with the one that pops up on their phones, as well as the driver’s photo before getting into the vehicle to ensure their safety. However to start using Uber as a passenger you must first download the app and signup to create an account then follow directions.

Several drivers have also been taken through safety training, besides being given access to a toll-free line which they can use to report any safety concerns.

“Uber has been providing safe reliable transport for Ugandans over the past year. We have been trusted to move people around every day. Through our innovative technology Uber has integrated safety into our service from beginning to end: before a passenger even gets into the car, throughout the journey and after they have reached their destination,” Aaron Tindiseega, Uber’s Country Manager for Uganda has said.

Uber is a private company and does not have to regularly report results, but industry watchers estimates its total value at nearly $70 billion and in mid-year its management conceded it generated revenues of $6.5 billion for the 2016 financial year. Uber taxis in Kampala charge riders per kliometre when moving, and per minute when idling. There is a minimum charge of UGX3000 (just over 80 US cents) and a cancellation fee of similar amount, other rates are UGX150 per minute and UGX750 per kilometre.

Tindiseega said the safety guidelines highlight the company’s commitment to creating simple, intuitive technology that not only makes the lives of riders and drivers easier, but also keeps everyone safe throughout their journeys. The safety guidelines are now available to all users in Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam and Kampala.

Tindiseega said, “Uber has been providing safe reliable transport for Ugandans over the past year. We have been trusted to move people around every day. Through our innovative technology Uber has integrated safety into our service from beginning to end: before a passenger even gets into the car, throughout the journey and after they have reached their destination.”

Riders have also being encouraged to always remain on the app as the trip is GPS- tracked from start to finish so that they can see their route and location of the car.

Earlier this year, Uber also published community guidelines in East Africa, a document that aims to provide guidance on how drivers and riders should behave and treat each other during a trip on the app.