Lately, Uber has been focusing on improving the safety of its drivers during emergency cases. The car company announced today that it has teamed up with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in order to launch the Safety Sessions Programme.

The programme will ease any fears and questions that Uber drivers may have when it comes to personal safety. Throughout the programme, sessions are being held for drivers to attend in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town.

“We believe that e-hailing drivers should have regular engagements with SAPS officials in their respective communities. Uber has embarked on this journey with the broader society in mind because we trust that through such partnerships, we are able to contribute to the safety and security for all,” says Ofentse Mokwena, Head of Strategic Projects, for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa.

At the moment, the Uber app does offer an in-app emergency button and GPS tracking. But besides that, drivers may not be sure what to do in an emergency situation. Who to call? Where to file a report in case of an accident or theft? After the Safety Sessions Programme, drivers will have the answers they need. Drivers will be slightly more prepared for what to do during a crisis.

Captain Selepe of SAPS adds, “We welcome the working relationship that the SAPS has with drivers and Uber, as we believe that collaborations such as these will help alleviate some of the safety issues we are currently seeing in this sector and in the communities where they are reported.”

Safety in all sectors

Another section where Uber is trying to improve is the safety of women drivers and passengers using the Uber app. The company did a survey of 1000 women catching Ubers, who were then asked a series of questions about their safety. The survey results were as follows:

85% of women using the Uber app believe that the app has made regular commutes safer for them.
71% of women who use Uber feel the app has empowered them.