Indian roads have become a battlefield where chaos and danger fight for supremacy. From heart-wrenching incidents of loss to jaw-dropping near misses, the streets of India have become a hotbed of unexpected twists and turns.
Reckless driving and negligence of traffic rules also add to the danger. According to a report published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), in 2021, more than 16,000 people lost their lives due to not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Despite the road conditions and ever-growing accident rates, Uber, one of the leading taxi aggregators, has introduced a new tech-enabled safety feature, known as the ‘audio seat belt reminder’ across India.
The innovative feature, which is a first in the industry, aims to promote safety by encouraging passengers to wear their seat belts. The feature will ask passengers to fasten their seatbelts during their initial five Uber trips and on every fifth trip afterward.
When a user books Uber and gets in, the driver’s phone will play an audio reminder asking passengers to “please use the rear seat belt for your safety.” Simultaneously, the user’s phone will receive a notification within the Uber app, reminding them to fasten their seatbelt before the journey starts.
As per Uber, India is the first country where they’re implementing the technology that uses a voice reminder and an in-app notification to encourage users to wear seat belts in the rear seat.
Dr. VK Singh, Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation, said, “Over the last few years, India has made progress on improving road infrastructure and connectivity. It is equally important that we invest in solutions that improve road safety to reduce fatalities caused due to accidents.”
Taxi aggregator companies like Uber have a responsibility to promote road safety. The introduction of the audio seatbelt reminder is an applaudable measure that will be a positive motivator in encouraging passengers to use the seat belt and comply with safety regulations during their journeys – He added.
Sooraj Nair, Head of Safety Operations, said, “We are constantly looking at ways to improve platform safety through tech-enabled features and strengthening support to enhance the experience for both riders and drivers alike.”
Uber’s new seat belt reminder feature is a praiseworthy and much-needed initiative, especially in a country like India. This new feature will promote road safety and create a culture of seatbelt usage among passengers.
As technology continues to evolve, integrating such safety features into transportation services will undoubtedly aid in saving lives and preventing accidents in the future. However, it is necessary to remember that we must follow traffic regulations, and we should do it without fail.
