Earlier this week the 2022 Fairwork SA report was published, looking at how gig platforms treat their workers. One of the lowest scoring platforms was Bolt, highlighting the fact that more needs to be done in order to physically and financially protect drivers in South Africa.

While not a direct result of the recently published report, Bolt has announced the rollout of two new features aimed to address the safety of drivers during trips.

To that end Bolt has introduced driver scores and driver trip sharing features.

The platform explains that the driver score feature is a transparent metric that allows drivers to understand their in-app performance better. It is also designed to encourage improvements in drivers’ habits and help them offer the best possible rider experience.

While this could prove useful, it is not abundantly clear how this specifically addresses driver safety.

The driver trip-sharing feature, however, does, as it will allow them to share a link with their real-time journey information. The link can be shared by email, SMS or messaging apps and enables any third party with access to the link to track and follow the driver’s ride status and location in real-time. Links will remain active for up to 48 hours if a ride is incomplete, Bolt confirms.

“Drivers are core to our business, so we constantly innovate to improve their experience on our platform. The new features we have introduced add to our in-app customer experience and are aimed at helping drivers have more control of their Bolt rides and maximise their earnings within a safe environment. The driver score and trip-sharing features align with the drivers’ entrepreneurial desires and improve the Bolt app’s overall user experience,” notes Takura Malaba, country manager of Bolt SA, regarding the new features.

“We believe that drivers want to offer excellent services to riders. With the driver score feature, drivers can get constant feedback about their performance which will help them improve,” the company adds in a press release sent to Hypertext.

While more still needs to be done to ensure that Bolt is safe for drivers and riders alike, these new features are at least a step in the right direction.