Riding platform Bolt has introduced additional features on its driver’s app to enhance the safety and well-being of drivers, Boda riders, and passengers during a trip.
The new safety features include the driver trip sharing feature and the rider score feature, which now allow drivers and riders on its platform to share their live trips and rate their passengers.
The driver trip-sharing feature provides enhanced safety for drivers by allowing them to share the status of their live trips with a third party, who then has the opportunity to follow the trip status and location in real-time.
Bolt also tracks and monitors the trips in real time throughout the journey.
“We are constantly looking to promote features and functionalities that improve the safety ecosystem of our app. Our core business is to provide sustainable, safe, and affordable mobility services to everyone,” Kenneth Micah, Bolt’s Regional Manager, Eastern Africa.
Drivers share their trip details via a link that is automatically generated once they are on a trip.
The link is valid for the current trip, and drivers must issue a new link for every trip if they feel it is necessary. For incomplete trips, the links will also remain active for up to 48 hours.
The trip-sharing feature functions similarly to the ‘Share your ETA feature’ on the passenger’s app, which enables passengers to share their live trip details with emergency contact numbers, bolstering safety throughout their journey.
Bolt has also introduced the rider score feature, which enables drivers to rate their passengers after every trip.
When a passenger gets a significantly low rating, or a driver reports an incident, the company will conduct due diligence, and necessary actions shall be taken, including the issuance of an in-app notification encouraging passengers to read the company’s terms and conditions again.
Ultimately, Bolt shall block their respective accounts if a passenger’s behaviour does not improve after that.
Other security features available on the Bolt app include the SOS emergency button that can be used to alert and seek security or medical assistance at any time during a Bolt trip where a driver, a passenger, or another road user is in immediate danger.
Bolt also has a women-only category aiming to address safety needs and improve women’s mobility by connecting female drivers with female passengers.
