Essential tips for e-hailing rides during the festive season

AS THE festive season approaches, so do heightened risks for e-hailing passengers and drivers.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

E-HAILING is convenient, but safety should always come first. This festive season, be proactive – verify details, share your trip and trust your instincts. | Pexels

(Pexels)

While e-hailing rides offer South Africans convenience and a popular option for safe, hassle-free travel, an increase in crimes and accidents highlights the need for constant vigilance and preparedness during holiday travel.

Recent figures are concerning: crimes connected to e-hailing services have risen by 20%. In Gauteng, 13 driver murders were reported within two weeks this year.

Factors like late-night rides, trips after drinking, and tired drivers increase these risks. Safety must now be a primary concern.

However, it’s not just about statistics; it’s about people. Behind every incident is a real story of trauma, loss, and survival. And as South Africa continues to battle gender-based violence (GBV), the safety of both passengers and drivers, especially women, becomes even more urgent.

False sense of security

“E-hailing has become part of our social fabric, especially during the holidays,” says Kirstie Haslam, a partner at DSC Attorneys, Cape Town.

“But the convenience it offers has created a false sense of security. Many passengers believe they’re automatically safe because they’re using an app, but when something goes wrong, they don’t know their rights or how to respond.”