More than a year after Malawian driver Matthew was hit by a car while delivering food on his motorbike in South Africa, he lives with a shooting pain in his foot and fears for his life every time he hits the road.
His injuries, including a broken toe and various cuts, left him unable to work for a month, but the company he was riding for - Uber Eats - told him he did not qualify for compensation as he was in hospital for less than 48 hours. I felt totally abandoned, Matthew - who asked not to use his real name for fear of retaliation - told the Thomson Reuters Foundation from his home in Pretoria.
Zimbabwean driver Carl shows a photo on his phone of his dented motorcycle after many accidents on his phone in Pretoria, South Africa. Uber confirmed that they will be increasing the frequency of awareness campaigns to ensure more drivers know of the safety offerings available to them, such as emergency assistance and injury protection. Thomson Reuters Foundation
JOHANNESBURG: Uber South Africa pledged to increase safety campaigns for food delivery drivers and review the insurance they provide following a Thomson Reuters Foundation expose about the mounting risks faced by drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The expose published earlier this month found a lack of training and safety equipment as rising numbers of mainly migrant drivers take to the roads to earn a living, and poorly advertised and often insufficient insurance cover.
Uber to boost safety measures in South Africa as accidents rise
Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Uber South Africa pledged to increase safety campaigns for food delivery drivers and review the insurance they provide following a recent exposé about the mounting risks faced by drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation exposé, published earlier this month, found a lack of training and safety equipment as rising numbers of mainly migrant drivers take to the roads to earn a living, and poorly advertised and often insufficient insurance cover.
Figures obtained by the Thomson Reuters Foundation showed a 30% jump in road accidents involving food couriers in May and June last year as South Africa eased its lockdown and the numbers of drivers rose.
Uber pledges to boost safety for SA drivers as accidents rise Kim Harrisberg > By Kim Harrisberg - 26 April 2021 - 14:17 We re committed to doing the right thing and take on our part of the responsibility to better safety in the industry, says Uber SA. Stock photo. Image: 123RF/Christian Mueller
Uber SA has pledged to increase safety campaigns for food delivery drivers and review the insurance they provide.
This follows a Thomson Reuters Foundation report about the mounting risks faced by drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic, citing a lack of training and safety equipment coupled with poorly advertised and often insufficient insurance cover.
Uber pledges to boost safety for S Africa drivers as accidents rise reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.