Kochi: In the aftermath of the recent incident in which an Ola cabbie misbehaved with a woman passenger in Kochi, private taxi services are forced to go back to the drawing board to beef up their security aspects.
The incident came to light when Avetha Thampaty from Mavelikkara took to Facebook to share an unpleasant experience she had with an Ola cabbie. Thampatty had booked a cab from Edappally to Panampilly Nagar on the night of July 4 after filling her e-wallet with Ola Money. But when the taxi reached her destination, the cab driver insisted that she pay in cash. An argument ensued, and the driver slapped at her. When the issue became public, the company suspended the driver.
In the backdrop of the incident, Onmanorama explores the security concerns of women who largely depend upon these on-demand taxies.
SOS feature
Most online cab companies have an SOS feature on their mobile apps. The idea is when in an emergency, passengers can tap a button and an instant message is sent out to the incident response teams (a kind of a call center), predefined emergency numbers of the passenger and where tie-ups exist, even to the police control room.
Steps to raise an emergency (SOS) alert on Ola
1. Press the SOS button of Ola app
2. Select the option ‘Alert your emergency contact’
3. Press the ‘Continue’ button
4. The alert or message or call will go to the emergency contact
5. The message ‘Alert send’ will appear
Driver ratings
According to Nithin Nair, chief of Uber in Kerala, Uber strictly examines the driver ratings and feedback given by the passengers after each travel. Those drivers below three-star rating will be strictly monitored. The company has a security wing to investigate the low ratings.
“If the car you are traveling in is involved in an accident, robbery attempt or any other emergency situation, the travelers should push the emergency button. This connects the passenger to the nearest police station through the GPS and a query will be raised as to whether an emergency situation actually exists. If one presses the ‘Yes’ button, the call will be immediately transferred to the police station number 100. At the police station, one would get the number of the car, the name of the driver and location of the vehicle. This is a service that works round the clock.
“Uber also ensures that it does not give the exact phone number of the passenger to the cab driver. We collect the details of a particular ride, including the expected pickup and drop timings, to ensure that family members of a passenger can be contacted by phone in case of an emergency,” he says.
Auto travel no better
Although autorickshaws are an effective commuting alternative, the uncivil behavior of some drivers and excess fares make it an unfavorable option. Kochi-based Arya Murali says that she faces bitter experiences traveling in autos, at least four times a month. Auto drivers are also not ready to go by the meter in Kochi. The drivers with defective meters charge Rs 30 for just 1.5 km. But there are a few good men in the lot – the ones who won’t charge a rupee beyond the meter reading.
Safety tips
All cab services provide the name and number of the vehicle on the mobile app once a booking is made. The driver’s photo will also be provided. Before you get into the cab, ensure that the driver and vehicle are the same. Uber has asked its drivers to update their photos at regular intervals. If the driver is not the same, the traveler has the right to block the ride. If a ride is canceled in five minutes, there will be no fine for cancellation. Travelers are also advised to go through the rating of the driver before the journey.
To make your travel safer, ensure that you share the details of your journey with your family members or friends.
Also, make sure that you give the correct customer feedback rating. If the driver stares at you or behaves in an impolite manner or indulges in an unnecessary talk, note them down in your feedback so that the company can examine it and take necessary action.
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