Uber and Bidhannagar Police announced a partnership today to help make urban mobility safer during the ongoing pandemic by driving the adoption of several safety and hygiene measures among drivers and passengers across varied modes of transport. Under the partnership, Uber will conduct socially-distanced in-person educational sessions on COVID-19 safety protocols based on WHO guidelines, for Uber drivers as well as local taxi drivers. Following the session, these drivers will be given certificates by Bidhannagar police, to be displayed inside their cars.
Today, the first batch of around 100 drivers educated on COVID safety protocols received their certificates. Apart from the training, Uber and Bidhannagar Police will also work towards creating safety awareness amongst riders and drivers by distributing pamphlets on COVID Safety do’s and don'ts’.
Speaking on the partnership, Subodh Sangwan, General Manager, Sri Lanka and South & East India, Uber, said, “At Uber, both rider and driver safety is a top priority. Through our partnership with Bidhannagar Police, we aim to increase public awareness about Covid safety measures, especially among drivers. We truly believe this partnership is another step towards safer mobility, and we are confident that, with the support of our riders, drivers and city administration, we will jointly work towards helping make every trip safer.”
Mr. Mukesh, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Bidhannagar Police, said, “Since the outbreak of the pandemic, we have taken various measures and sensitised people to take necessary safety precautions to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As the economy is unlocking, we need to be more cautious and put our best foot forward to ensure maximum safety. Our partnership with Uber is an extension of our commitment to work towards the betterment of the people we serve. We are confident that, through this alliance, we will be able to educate more riders and drivers and ensure safe transportation for our residents.”
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Uber has launched multiple initiatives to support State governments and communities across the country. The company facilitated 280,000 free trips to the National Health Authority (NHA) and other city and State Governments, including Department of Health and family welfare, West Bengal, for transporting thousands of frontline healthcare workers. These rides were part of a larger global commitment made by Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, to donate 10 million free food deliveries and rides to healthcare workers, seniors, and people in need.
Over the past few months, the company has also launched a comprehensive set of safety measures, such as the Go Online Checklist and a mandatory mask policy for both riders and drivers, pre-trip mask verification selfies for drivers, mandatory driver education around Covid-19 related safety protocols, and an updated cancellation policy where both riders and drivers can cancel trips if they don’t feel safe. Complementing these measures, Uber is distributing over 3 million masks and 200,000 bottles of disinfectants and sanitisers to its drivers, free of cost.
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