Uber, India’s leading ridesharing company, has dialled up safety for riders and drivers using bike taxis in Kolkata. The company is distributing special safety kits containing essential protective gear, including helmets, reflective vests, safety stickers, and elbow and knee pads, to enhance road safety. 600 such kits will be distributed by Uber over the next two months. Shri Snehasis Chakraborty,Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Transport, Government of West Bengal, distributed safety kits to select Uber Moto drivers today.
Bike taxis have grown in popularity across India due to convenience, easy first and last-mile connectivity, and affordability. As per a KPMG report titled “Unlocking the potential of bike taxis in India”, bike taxis could generate over 5.4 million flexible livelihood opportunities in India by 2030. Yet, riders and drivers using bike taxis are often vulnerable to road accidents. Lack of helmets and other protective gear is often the primary reason for serious injuries and accidental deaths.
Uber’s collaboration with the State Transport Department is aimed at promoting safety on two wheelers and reducing fatalities and serious injuries caused due to road accidents. The Government of West Bengal’s “Safe Drive, Safe Life” flagship initiative has led the charge at reducing road accidents since its launch in 2016.
Shri Snehasis Chakraborty, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Transport, Government of West Bengal, said, “We are committed to making roads safer and initiatives like ‘Safe Drive, Save Life’ have played a crucial role in reducing accidents and saving lives. Ensuring that two-wheeler riders have access to proper protective gear is an essential step toward making our roads safer. We appreciate Uber’s commitment to road safety through the distribution of safety kits and its continued investment in rider and driver protection.”
Sooraj Nair, Head of Safety Operations, Uber India & South Asia, said, “At Uber, safety is a top priority. The volume of rides across two- and three-wheeler vehicles on the Uber volume has outgrown the size of car rides being completed on our platform. The distribution of Moto safety kits will equip drivers with much needed protective heat and contribute to helmet adoption in the market. We are grateful to the West Bengal government for its support and look forward to continuing our collaboration in promoting road safety.”
Uber’s safety enhancements go beyond just distributing protective gear. Technology-led safety features including a 24X7 Safety Line, an in-app emergency button, two-way phone number anonymization, and early trip anomaly detection through RideCheck, are available to riders and drivers on every trip. In late 2024, the company announced AI-powered helmet verification, requiring drivers to take a “helmet selfie” before starting a trip.
