Bolt drivers who solicit offline trips will be suspended by Bolt.

 

According to a recent statement, the industry leader in e-hailing, Bolt, has added a new in-app cancellation function to deter users from taking offline journeys.

Additionally, Bolt has put in place mitigating measures, like as temporary accommodations, for drivers who are consistently reported to be soliciting offline rides.

Trip tracking and driver alerts, two new safety tools from the corporation, are intended to interact with users in a proactive manner and provide drivers with important information about forthcoming travels in locations where safety issues have been raised.

Offline journeys usually happen when drivers and passengers haggle over less expensive fares outside of the app, putting both sides at danger.

Drivers looking for other sources of revenue frequently encourage riders to cancel scheduled rides and pay offline, which contributes to the growth in e-hailing offline excursions. By doing this, drivers are able to keep all of the trip fare rather than the customary portion that is normally divided between Bolt and the owner of the vehicle.

Riders can now cancel a trip by choosing the option "driver asked to pay off-the-app" in certain situations thanks to the recently added cancellation feature. When drivers request payment outside of the app, charge more than the agreed-upon rate, or encourage trip cancellations to go offline, this feature gives riders the power to intervene quickly.

"We're happy to introduce our latest cancellation option, designed to cut down on offline trips and address instances where drivers insist on charging rates exceeding those on the app," said Sandra Suzanne Buyole, public relations manager at Bolt Africa.

Bolt strongly advises against planning offline trips because it jeopardizes dependability and safety for both drivers and customers. Essential safety features like GPS tracking and SOS coverage stop working while a journey is offline, leaving customers unprotected and deprived of vital in-app safety measures.

There are several African countries where the new canceling option is being implemented, including South Africa. Bolt emphasizes that user safety comes first and that remaining online guarantees the efficacy of safety and emergency functions.