- Uber Eats, an online food ordering and delivery platform, has introduced several in-app courier safety features, designed to improve overall safety for delivery people amid increased thefts and violence targeted at eCommerce delivery workers in South Africa.
- The food delivery platform will implement several key updates to its platform to foster a safer environment for delivery couriers and other motorists on the road.
- Cassie Jaganyi, Communications Head for Uber South Africa, expressed ensuring user safety on the platform is a top priority. She added that the new features reinforce the platform's commitment to keeping delivery people safe.
“The on-demand emergency response platform Aura will also work to provide delivery drivers with swift emergency assistance at the push of a button. This covers medical assistance and security services for drivers involved in accidents.”
The Safety feature includes a new safety toolkit offering several safety resources and features, including the ability to record audio, share trips with a trusted contact, and provide emergency assistance. This feature already exists for Uber’s e-hailing consumers.
This feature becomes necessary as criminals are increasingly targeting courier vehicles to steal valuable cargo and vehicles in South Africa. Reports suggest that vehicle hijackings make up 55% of all national vehicle crime incidents, surpassing thefts, which stand at 45%. Vehicles owned by businesses are especially at risk, with a 64% chance of being hijacked compared to a 36% chance of being stolen.
Additionally, the platform is rolling out several new in-app features, including driver hour limits of 12 hours per day, a destination transparency feature, and seat belt reminders.
The company recognised that long driving hours increase the likelihood of accidents due to fatigue, which limits alertness and slows reaction times. To address this, drivers will receive notifications when they have two hours, 1.5 hours, and one hour remaining of their 12-hour limit. The counter resets to 12 hours after they have been offline for six or more hours.
The platform will also introduce in-app notifications reminding four-wheel vehicle drivers to buckle up with a 'ding' sound before each trip. The destination transparency feature will allow delivery drivers to see their destinations in advance, giving them greater control over their routes and enhancing both safety and convenience.