Bolt Kenya has warned riders and drivers from engaging in offline trips during the festive season.
In a statement on December 18, the ride-hailing company cautioned that trips arranged outside the Bolt app pose significant safety risks for both drivers and riders.
Safety Manager for Bolt Africa Hazel May Omune stated that operating within the platforms guarantees safety which is Bolt’s top priority.
“At Bolt, safety is our top priority. We strongly advise both drivers and riders to use the Bolt app for all their trips to ensure their safety. By keeping rides within the app, users are guaranteed the safety that our platform provides,” said Hazel.
Offline trips bypass Bolt safety measures
She also stated that offline trips bypass Bolt’s in-app safety measures, including trip tracking, identity verification, and emergency support systems.
“Offline trips undermine the safety features we have in place to protect our users, such as ride check, access to emergency response, and location sharing with loved ones while on trip,” added Hazel.
Also Read: Bolt Introduces New Offline Safety Feature for Riders
Bolt encouraged passengers to report any suspicious or inappropriate behavior through the app for prompt investigation.
Some of the safety precautions that users of the online taxi include sharing location, whereby drivers and passengers can share their real-time location and ride details—such as the vehicle’s make, model, registration number, and live location via a secure, shareable link.
Safety measures while using the online taxi
In case of an emergency, passengers and drivers can quickly and discreetly alert an emergency response team using the in-app Emergency Assist button.
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This feature also notifies Bolt’s safety team, who will make an immediate welfare call to ensure the situation is addressed promptly.
Also Read: Bolt Cracks Whip, Drops 5,000 Drivers
Bolt has affirmed its commitment to creating a safe, reliable, and seamless mobility experience for all users in Kenya, noting that the safety team is available around the clock to provide assistance and support during and after trips.
Bolt launched its operations in Kenya in 2016. It started in Nairobi as an alternative to Uber, another ride-hailing app, before spreading to other towns.
It has operations in over 50 countries and 600 cities. The company’s products include ride-hailing, scooter and car rental services, food and grocery delivery, and corporate mobility services.
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