In a strategic move to enhance safety measures within its platform, Bolt, a key player in the online cab-hailing sector in Africa, has unveiled its latest safety innovation through a groundbreaking safety workshop, introducing the rider verification feature aimed at fortifying driver safety.

This strategic move is part of Bolt's continuous commitment to refining safety measures on its platform, fostering trust between drivers and riders, and providing a lucrative environment for drivers to accept more orders.

The end goal is to enhance earning opportunities and streamline the overall experience for riders.

As the cornerstone of this safety initiative, Bolt introduces an in-app feature requiring riders to submit a selfie before initiating a trip request.

The authenticity of the selfie is crucial, it must depict a physically present person with a clearly visible face.

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Notably, an order cannot be placed if the submitted selfie fails the validation process.

This streamlined verification process typically takes only a few seconds to a couple of minutes, requiring riders to complete it only during their initial order placement.

This rider verification feature represents the latest addition to Bolt's arsenal of safety tools, complementing an array of existing measures geared towards driver safety.

Among these features are a 24/7 safety support system, rider management capabilities enabling the blocking of customers exhibiting inappropriate behaviour, phone masking to protect Bolt drivers' phone numbers during rider communication, and trip monitoring alerts.

The latter promptly notifies Bolt's safety team if a driver's vehicle remains stationary for an extended period, thus ensuring an all-encompassing commitment to safety.

Linda Ndungu, the Country Manager at Bolt, expressed enthusiasm about the introduction of rider verification, currently in a trial phase.

She emphasized its significance in reinforcing Bolt's dedication to setting the highest industry safety standards.

"Rider verification is the newest feature dedicated to upgrading driver safety. It’s part of our ongoing investment in new products, features, and our dedicated in-house specially trained safety team, to ensure that we can continue to improve the safety ecosystem of the Bolt app," Ndungu stated.

This innovation reaffirms Bolt's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of safety within the ride-hailing industry.