ASUNCIÓN, PARAGUAY – Bolt, the global mobility platform, has introduced a new feature called 'Trip Count' in Paraguay to further enhance driver safety. This function allows drivers to view a passenger's past ride history, providing a more transparent understanding of passenger reliability and helping drivers decide whether to accept a ride. Bolt's move is part of its ongoing effort to provide a safer and more trustworthy platform environment for both drivers and passengers.
The Trip Count feature displays the total number of trips a passenger has completed on the Bolt platform, next to their name and rating. This is designed to give drivers a clear understanding of the passenger's platform experience and provide peace of mind when accepting rides. Bolt expects that providing this information will empower drivers with more control and help reduce potential risks.
A Bolt representative stated, "Trust is key to the success of any mobility platform, and Bolt understands this better than anyone. With the Trip Count feature, both drivers and passengers will feel more secure using the app."
A Multi-Layered Approach to Enhancing Transparency and Trust
The Trip Count feature is one part of Bolt's extensive ecosystem of safety tools. Bolt provides various features to protect both drivers and passengers throughout their journey, and these features work complementarily to improve the overall safety level of the platform. Trip Count enhances transparency by allowing drivers to evaluate ride requests based on additional information beyond just the passenger profile.
Bolt's safety features include:
Selfie Verification: Requires real-time selfie verification upon driver registration and periodically re-verifies to ensure the accuracy of driver identity. This is an essential procedure to prevent improper account usage and continuously verify driver identities.
Passenger Verification: Offers passengers the option to voluntarily upload selfies and IDs to verify their identity. This helps drivers obtain additional information about the passenger's identity and reduce potential risks. Currently, this is only available in some countries like Paraguay, but it will gradually be expanded.
Pickup Codes: Passengers provide a unique 4-digit code to the driver before boarding the vehicle to confirm their identity. This is an effective way to prevent boarding the wrong vehicle and reduce confusion for both passengers and drivers.
Emergency Assist & Audio Recording: Provides functions to share location in case of an emergency and record audio if necessary. This recording is encrypted and stored on Bolt's secure servers and can be used for emergency investigations. This serves as a protective measure for both passengers and drivers in emergencies.
Trip Safety Monitoring: Automatically generates warnings if a vehicle remains stationary for an unusually long time during a trip. This helps detect potential dangerous situations early and allows Bolt's safety team to intervene if needed.
'Shake to Call' Feature: Shaking the smartphone activates an emergency call button, allowing quick contact with Bolt's emergency assistance team or local police. This feature enables swift response in critical situations.
Anonymous Calling Feature: Allows drivers and passengers to communicate through the app without knowing each other's personal phone numbers, protecting privacy.
Continuous Investment in Safety and Future Plans
Beyond simply improving transparency, the Trip Count feature strengthens trust between drivers and passengers, making every trip safer and more informed. For Bolt, safety is not just a feature, but a continuous commitment. The implementation of Trip Count is part of Bolt's broader strategy to constantly improve the platform's safety standards.
Bolt announced in 2024 that it would invest €100 million (approximately ₩147 billion) over the next three years to strengthen its safety tools. This investment will be used for developing AI-based safety features, enhancing safety training programs, and expanding global teams. Bolt plans to do its best to ensure that all users can use the platform with peace of mind through these investments.
About Bolt
Bolt is a European-based mobility platform that currently offers services in over 50 countries and more than 600 cities across Europe and Africa. Beyond app-based ride-hailing services, Bolt also provides various services including scooter and e-bike rentals, car rentals, food delivery, and corporate mobility solutions. Globally, it currently has over 200 million users and 4.5 million registered drivers. Bolt's vision is to create cities for people, not cars, and accelerate the shift from private transportation to shared mobility. Bolt strives to foster sustainable urban environments and help solve traffic congestion and environmental pollution issues.
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