In a bid to improve safety on its platform, Bolt South Africa has permanently blocked over 6,000 drivers from its app in the past six months.
The move is part of the company’s commitment to ensure a safer environment for riders and drivers.
According to Bolt, the blocked drivers were found to be non-compliant with safety standards and had violated the company’s guidelines.
The company stated that it will continue to take strict measures against any misconduct, including permanent suspension from the platform.
Weyinmi Aghadiuno, Bolt Africa’s acting head of regulatory and policy, emphasized the importance of maintaining high safety standards. “We understand the trust our customers place in us, and we are taking proactive steps to ensure their well-being during every ride. We believe that one incident is too many, and we want to ensure our platform consists of top-rated drivers, which will result in a better overall ride experience.”
Bolt has implemented various measures to create a safer ride-hailing experience, including a trip audio recording feature, an in-app emergency response service, trip monitoring tools, and rider and driver verification capabilities. The company has also intensified its efforts to enforce platform guidelines, including a driver screening process that undergoes background checks before being able to drive on the app.
The e-hailing industry has been plagued by incidents of crime, violent attacks, and drivers being accused of harassment, alleged rape of female passengers, and theft of passengers’ money and mobile phones. Bolt has threatened to block drivers who rent out their accounts, which constitutes fraud and can lead to criminal acts under an innocent person’s name.
The company’s efforts to improve safety on its platform are ongoing, and it has shown its commitment to ensuring a safer environment for all users.