Following accidents, Dutch Uber lifts minimum driver age

A man checks his smartphone whilst standing against an illuminated screen bearing the Uber Technologies Inc. logo in this arranged photograph in London, U.K., on Tuesday, June 26, 2018. Uber won an 15-month probationary license to operate in London after convincing a judge and regulators that the ride-sharing service had shaken off its gung-ho attitude of the past. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

THE HAGUE, Netherlands: Ride hailing firm Uber said Jan 21 it is raising the minimum age of its drivers in the Netherlands and taking other measures to increase road safety after a series of fatal accidents involving Uber drivers. 

The general manager of Uber Nederland, Thijs Emondts, said in a statement posted on the company’s website that it is lifting the minimum age from 18 to 21 years for drivers who use its app to connect with passengers.