Lyft ramps up driver and passenger safety efforts

Ride-share firm Lyft is seeking to head off concerns over passenger safety by requiring its drivers to take a ‘community safety’ course. Lyft has partnered with non-profit anti-sexual assault organisation Rainn, and drivers will be required to complete an education course designed by both parties. Riders and drivers must agree to Lyft’s community guidelines on behaving with care and respect. Passengers reported for violating these will be removed from the platform while drivers will be required to take add
September 19, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Ride-share firm 8789 Lyft is seeking to head off concerns over passenger safety by requiring its drivers to take a ‘community safety’ course.

Lyft has partnered with non-profit anti-sexual assault organisation Rainn, and drivers will be required to complete an education course designed by both parties. Riders and drivers must agree to Lyft’s community guidelines on behaving with care and respect. Passengers reported for violating these will be removed from the platform while drivers will be required to take additional safety courses.

According to a blog %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external post false http://blog.lyft.com/ false false%>, Lyft is now offering a ‘smart trip check-in’ service where - if a journey appears to have unexplained delays - its team will ask the driver and passenger whether they need support.

Lyft co-founder John Zimmer says all safety features in the app will be available in a single place, including a way to dial 911. Emergency assistance from the app displays vehicle information and the number plate, making it easier to inform dispatchers if necessary.

“We've known since the beginning that as part of our mission, we must heavily invest in safety,” he continues. “We continue to welcome accountability and partnership to best protect our rider and driver community.”

In February, Lyft formed a community safety programme committee led by general counsel Kristin Sverchek, and former US secretary of transportation Anthony Foxx. It has introduced 14 new safety features this year including increased anti-fraud measures and requiring detailed feedback for any rides less than four stars.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Only one week left to submit papers for ITS Europe and ITS World Congress
    January 7, 2016
    There is only one week to the submission deadlines for submission of papers for the ITS European Congress in Glasgow and the ITS World Congress in Melbourne. Papers for both congresses must be submitted by 13 January to be sure of consideration. Authors can submit their technical and scientific papers for either traditional presentations or interactive sessions in Glasgow. Authors intending to be considered for the commercial papers category can submit their paper for a commercial theatre session. ITS ex
    Read More
  • Siemens snaps up Aimsun in deal agreed at Intertraffic
    March 22, 2018
    Intertraffic was the venue for the announcement of one of the biggest deals of the year as electronics giant Siemens acquired Barcelona-based mobility modelling specialist Aimsun for an undisclosed sum. Initially spun out from a university research lab team, TSS-Transport Simulation Systems, as the company was initially known, has spent 20 years developing its microsimulator into a multi-level integrated modeling platform. Aimsun systems and algorithms use real-time traffic data to optimise traffic flows
    Read More
  • ITS European congress papers deadline extended
    January 8, 2014
    The deadline for paper and special interest session proposal submissions for the ITS European Congress and Exhibition in Helsinki has been extended to midnight on 14 January. We have already received many valuable submissions and we thank you for your contributions. Papers and special interest session proposals should be submitted through the submission portal, which also provides the submission guidelines. For further details on the congress and exhibition, visit the Congress website.
    Read More
  • UK government gets future mobility challenge underway
    August 2, 2018
    The UK government has unveiled plans under its Future of Mobility Grand Challenge which could change how people, goods and services move around the country. These initiatives have been outlined in the Last Mile and Future of mobility call for evidence, which provide an insight into how technology could make transport safer, more accessible and greener. Under the plans, electric cargo bikes, vans, quadricycles and micro vehicles could replace vans in UK cities as part of a strategy to change last-mile
    Read More

Highlighted Content