This feature, which is provided by ICEplus, a mobile panic button solution, can be found in Uber’s safety toolkit, a central place in the app itself where safety features are bundled together, making it easily accessible for riders on their home screen.
In the unlikely event where safety is compromised, riders can call for assistance directly from the Uber app by tapping the shield icon on the map. Once the in-app button has been activated, riders will be connected to ICEplus Incident Management Centre, where a consultant will assess the nature of the safety incident and will either dispatch a third-party private security company or medical response team to the rider’s location. The ICEplus agent will stay on the line with the rider until they are safe.
Alon Lits, General Manager for Sub Saharan Africa explains, “This partnership is part of Uber’s investment to strengthen rider safety. We are thrilled to be able to offer this feature to riders. ICEPlus has integrated perfectly with our app and will provide a better experience for riders.”
Loet de Swart, CEO of ICEplus adds, “ICEplus is incredibly proud to be associated with a company such as Uber who not only offer a superior ride-hailing service but they don’t stop there, they then go to great lengths to take measures that proactively ensure the safety of their riders and for this they should be commended.”
Did you know? The Safety Toolkit doesn’t only provide access to the in-app emergency button for riders and drivers, however, it also provides riders with information about Uber’s driver screening processes, rider injury protection, and community guidelines. This updated feature also includes Trusted Contacts which allows riders to select up to five friends and family members which riders can share trip details with them during every ride with a single tap. DM
About Uber
Uber’s mission is to help people get a ride at the push of a button – everywhere and for everyone. We started in 2009 to solve a simple problem – how do you get a ride at the touch of a button? 10 years and over ten billion trips later, we’ve started tackling an even greater challenge: reducing congestion and pollution in our cities by getting more people into fewer cars.
Uber is available in thirteen cities in Sub-Saharan Africa (Cape Town, Durban, Joburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Nairobi, Mombasa, Lagos, Abuja, Kampala, Accra, Kumasi and Dar es Salaam). Overall, the Uber network is available in over 600 cities in over 65 countries. To request a ride, users must download the free application for Android, iPhone, Blackberry 7, or register for Uber atwww.uber.com/go. For questions visit www.uber.com
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