Grace Ashiru
With the festive season approaching, road safety concerns are becoming increasingly important. The Department of Transport reported an alarming 1,184 fatalities during the 2023/24 festive period.
As a company that prioritizes people and has been the second most downloaded app globally for two consecutive years, inDrive is committed to improving safety for both drivers and passengers.
Staying true to its mission to challenge injustice, inDrive is proud to introduce a new in-app call feature, along with other innovative safety measures, designed to provide a safer e-hailing experience during this festive season.
Expanding its presence, inDrive recently launched operations in seven additional cities across South Africa, increasing its total to 16. The new cities include Bloemfontein, Mahikeng, Emalahleni (Witbank), Kimberley, George, Vereeniging, and Potchefstroom. These safety enhancements come at an ideal time as these cities begin operations, ensuring that both new and existing users benefit from the improved safety features during the busy festive period.
How the New In-App Call Feature Works
The new in-app call feature allows passengers and drivers to connect directly within the app, enhancing both privacy and safety by removing the need to exchange personal phone numbers. This feature aims to boost communication efficiency and improve the overall experience for both drivers and passengers in South Africa. Users can make voice calls through two methods:
Free Internet/Voice over IP (VoIP): Passengers and drivers can communicate using mobile data or Wi-Fi through the app, offering a cost-effective solution.
Regular GSM Calls: For those who prefer or depend on traditional mobile network calls, GSM is available, ensuring dependable communication even in areas with poor internet connectivity.
Both VoIP and GSM communication options are available to all users, providing the flexibility to choose based on individual needs and circumstances. Additionally, phone masking is applied to both VoIP and GSM calls, ensuring that neither the driver’s nor the passenger’s personal phone numbers are exposed during the conversation, adding an extra layer of privacy and security while maintaining seamless communication.
Enhanced Safety Features for a Safer Ride
InDrive has introduced a new in-app call feature, alongside a series of safety upgrades tailored to meet regional needs. The app now integrates safety tips for both passengers and drivers, offering practical advice for staying safe during trips. By tapping the Shield button, users can access these continuously updated tips, reflecting the latest safety features and improvements.
The safety measures extend beyond the app and include:
● Driver/Passenger Selection: Users can choose drivers or passengers based on ratings and reviews.
● Ride Sharing: Real-time sharing of ride details with trusted contacts.
● Driver Verification: Liveness checks and weekly photo verifications to ensure driver identity.
● Device Bans: Enforced for violators or those posing safety risks.
● Danger Zone Indicators: Alerts for potentially unsafe areas.
Vincent Lilane, inDrive’s Business Development Representative in Southern Africa, stated, “Our commitment to safety is unwavering, especially during the festive season. These new in-app features are designed to empower both drivers and passengers with the tools they need to feel secure and protected on every trip. As we expand across South Africa, we remain focused on safety, creating a reliable and secure environment for all users of the inDrive platform.”
About InDrive
inDrive is a global platform providing mobility and urban services. With over 200 million app downloads, it was the second most downloaded mobility app in both 2022 and 2023. Beyond ride-hailing, inDrive offers a growing range of urban services, including intercity transportation, freight delivery, task assistance, and courier services. In 2023, the company introduced New Ventures, its venture and M&A division.
inDrive operates in 749 cities across 46 countries. Committed to challenging social injustice, the company aims to positively impact the lives of one billion people by 2030. It seeks to achieve this goal through its core business, which benefits local communities with a fair pricing model, and through inVision, its non-profit arm. inVision’s community programs focus on empowering education, sports, arts, sciences, gender equality, and other essential initiatives.
For more details, visit www.inDrive.com.
