Uber pledges to boost safety for South Africa drivers as accidents rise

Zimbabwean driver Carl shows a photo on his phone of his dented motorcycle after many accidents on his phone in Pretoria, South Africa. Uber confirmed that they will be increasing the frequency of awareness campaigns to ensure more drivers know of the safety offerings available to them, such as emergency assistance and injury protection. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

JOHANNESBURG: Uber South Africa pledged to increase safety campaigns for food delivery drivers and review the insurance they provide following a Thomson Reuters Foundation expose about the mounting risks faced by drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The expose published earlier this month found a lack of training and safety equipment as rising numbers of mainly migrant drivers take to the roads to earn a living, and poorly advertised and often insufficient insurance cover.