Company Announcement - Uber, the innovative app technology that connects riders with drivers, has announced its full support of the Department of Transport’s 2014 Festive Season Road Safety Campaign, launched last week. On Friday, 28 November, the South African Minister of Transport, Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, discussed the detailed integrated road traffic safety plan that seeks to enhance co-ordination, integration and improved law enforcement, and road traffic safety awareness and education activities for maximum results. It also encompasses the notion of road safety being everybody's responsibility.

Minister Peters said that the plan maps government’s trajectory towards the 2020 UN Decade of Action for road safety, which is a declaration of war against road crashes and fatalities. “Uber fully supports government’s road safety initiatives. We strongly agree with Minister Peters that everyone needs to make a personal contribution towards saving lives by taking responsibility of our safety on our roads,” says Alon Lits, General Manager, Uber Johannesburg and Durban. “Uber is one of the safest ways to get around in South Africa and we strongly believe that our technology can assist the government and minister in achieving their road safety objectives.” Some of the key focus areas of government’s 2014 Festive Season Road Safety Campaign include impaired driving, vehicle fitness and dangerous driving. “Drunk driving is one of the biggest threats to traffic safety in South Africa. The South African market has one of the highest drink driving accident rates in the world. According to Arrive Alive, 50% of people who die on the roads have a blood alcohol concentration above 0.05 gram per 100 millilitres,” says Anthony le Roux, General Manager, Uber Cape Town. “Our ultimate goal is to raise the bar when it comes to the quality, safety, and service of transport, all of which the general public stands to benefit. Uber is leading the transportation industry with safety standards second to none.”

By connecting riders and drivers with a safe, reliable and seamless ride, Uber has transformed the way people think about their transportation options in South Africa. Uber’s innovative technology means they can offer riders unrivalled safety when booking and taking a trip. Also, every transaction is cashless, so drivers never have to worry about the risk or hassle of carrying cash or making change.
Uber riders can see their driver’s photo, name, vehicle and registration as well as the drivers star rating when booking – providing riders with all the information they need to ensure a safe and secure ride before even stepping into the car. Every new driver on the Uber platform undergoes a comprehensive AFIS criminal background check before they are allowed to drive on the system.

Uber riders also have access to a live GPS-enabled map throughout their journey and can share this with family, partners or friends, who can then track their swift, secure and safe travel to their destination. In addition, Uber performs regular vehicle inspections to ensure vehicle safety standards are maintained. This makes Uber the safest and most efficient way to get around. As the festive season approaches, it brings with it a stream of invitations to end-of-year parties, office functions and family get-togethers to celebrate the year passed. It has been a long year and everyone deserves to celebrate and enjoy all that is on offer, but don’t spare responsibility for a night of fun.

Enjoy the festive season to the fullest, simply by using Uber – the safest way to get you to and from your destination.