Uber has introduced Teen Accounts which allow young people aged 13 to 17 to use the ride-hailing platform independently.
To activate the accounts, parents or guardians must send a link for a mandatory safety onboarding process. After that, the teens can request trips on their own.
General Manager, Uber Sub-Saharan Africa, Kagiso Khaole, explained that these teen accounts are built with transparency in mind so that there are no surprises for parents, teens, or drivers.
“Whether their teen is getting a ride to an internship or heading home after football practice, parents will receive real-time notifications and can follow along with live trip tracking every step of the way. We’re committed to helping keep teens safe and getting families moving,” he said.
Uber has introduced several safety features for these teen accounts. Parents can track their teen’s trip in real-time, receive driver details, and ensure safety with PIN verification.
The app uses sensors to detect any deviations from the route and alerts both parties. Audio recording during trips and the ability for parents to contact drivers enhance safety measures.
Only qualified and experienced drivers who pass screening tests and background checks can receive trip requests from teen accounts, with the option to opt-out if they choose to do so.