Bolt South Africa has introduced the rider profile feature that allows riders to add a photo of themselves to their Bolt profile, a move aimed at improving safety for driver-partners using the platform.
With this feature, drivers are able to view the rider’s photo during pick-up and throughout the trip. This additional identification step will help ensure drivers pick up the correct person, enhancing safety measures and where incidents do occur riders can be held accountable.
How to add a photo
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Open the Bolt app menu
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Select View Profile
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Select the edit button to take a photo.
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Photos cannot be uploaded from the gallery; they must be taken in real-time.
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, further prioritising safety.
This new feature complements existing safety measures on the platform, such as the in-app safety toolkit, which allows driver-partners to share ride details with loved ones, access emergency assistance, and even trigger an audio recording of the trip if needed.
Additionally, Bolt’s trip safety monitoring automatically checks in with drivers if a vehicle remains stationary for an extended period, ensuring everything is okay. Driver alerts also help identify areas with a high volume of safety concerns reported by drivers and riders.
Sandra Buyole, Regional PR Manager at Bolt, added, “We take driver feedback seriously and work around the clock to improve their safety. Enabling drivers to identify riders accurately is crucial to enhancing safety on our platform and building trust between all parties involved. We want to create a safer Bolt community where there is shared accountability. ”
