Amid the current pandemic situation, it is very important that everyone is safe especially when they are outside their homes. Last month, Uber and Bajaj’s auto have announced that they’re partnering with auto-rickshaw drivers across the country to install safety partitions just behind the driver’s seat which will act as a protective barrier to limit the contact between driver and rider to ensure proper social distancing while traveling.
A safety kit that will consist of face masks, vehicle disinfectants, and hand sanitizers shall be distributed amongst 1 lakh auto-rickshaw drivers, across 20 cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, Mysore, among others.
Furthermore, Uber has been leveraging its technology to provide drivers with specialized training modules which is mandatory, via Uber app on the accurate usage of PPE and sanitization protocols for their vehicles.
As quoted in the Times of India, Nandandini Maheshwari, Director, Busines Development, Uber APAC, said in a statement that, “Our partnership with Bajaj demonstrates our commitment to the safety of everyone who uses our platform. Over the coming few months, we will leverage our close ties to continue to instill confidence in our driver-partners and provide peace of mind for millions of our riders.” Samardeep Subandh, President, Indra-city Business, Bajaj Auto mentioned that “We are reaching out to more than 1lakh drivers to install safety partitions and deliver disinfection kits irrespective of the make of the vehicle.”
Uber has also allocated $50 million globally to purchase safety equipment like masks, hand sanitizers, gloves, and disinfectant sprays for drivers. After resuming its operations in India, Uber has also distributed protective equipment to drivers in more than 70 cities.
To maintain the safety for everyone, Uber recently has launched a set of safety measures, such as the Go Online Checklist, a mandatory mask policy that is for both riders and drivers, pre-trip mask verification selfies for drivers, mandatory driver education and an updated cancellation policy allowing both riders and driver to cancel trips if they don’t feel safe.
