About
Subscribe

Bolt SA riders can now add profile pics

Sibahle Malinga
By Sibahle Malinga, ITWeb senior news journalist.
Johannesburg, 08 May 2024
Enabling drivers to accurately identify riders is a crucial step towards enhancing safety, says Bolt.
Enabling drivers to accurately identify riders is a crucial step towards enhancing safety, says Bolt.

E-hailing firm Bolt has introduced rider profile photos in South Africa − a new feature that allows riders to take a photo of themselves and add it to their Bolt profile.

According to a statement, the new in-app feature is part of Bolt’s ongoing investment in safety capabilities on its platform, reinforcing its commitment to driver safety and strengthening driver-rider trust.

Driver-partners can view the rider’s photo during pick-up and throughout the trip. This additional identification step will help ensure driver-partners pick up the correct person, enhancing safety measures, it says.

“At Bolt, we're committed to providing our driver with the information they need to deliver a top-notch ride-hailing experience,” says Sandra Buyole, PR manager at Bolt.

“Enabling drivers to identify riders accurately is a crucial step towards enhancing safety on our platform and building trust between all parties involved.”

In the event that a driver feels uncomfortable because the rider's photo does not match the person at the pick-up point, they have the option to decline the trip.

Photos cannot be uploaded from the gallery; they must be taken in real-time, according to Bolt.

This new feature complements existing safety measures on the platform, such as the in-app safety toolkit, which allows driver-partners to share details with loved ones, access emergency assistance and start an audio recording of the trip if needed.

New riders on the platform are also required to upload a copy of their identification document, which Bolt will check against the image.

Additionally, Bolt's trip safety monitoring automatically checks in with riders and driver-partners if a remains stationary for an extended period, to ensure everything is okay.

Meanwhile, Bolt says it is investigating an incident that took place in Cape Town over the weekend, where a Bolt driver allegedly stabbed two female riders during an altercation.

The driver, who was transporting women in Table View, has since been blocked by the e-hailer, it says.

Share