Didi Resumes Late-Night Service with Increased Safety Measures
By Ryan Gandolfo
On September 15, Didi resumed their late-night taxi service after a week-long hiatus.
The company suspended their 11pm-5am shift as a response to the murder of a young woman using their app in Zhejiang province in late August.
The Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Public Security recently called on Didi Chuxing to conduct an internal safety review. The company was able to focus their efforts on improving rider safety and driver credibility by implementing more safety features and requiring drivers to complete a mandatory online driver safety program.
After suspending their late-night service, Didi has resumed operations touting several new features and statistics. Their in-trip audio recording, which started on September 8, has effectively reduced verbal harassment, conflicts and fare disputes, according to a Didi press release. To ensure user privacy protection, the audio files are automatically deleted seven days after recording if no dispute is filed.
From September 4 to 14, Didi also saw nearly seven million passengers provide new emergency contact information, which will ensure faster communication between the police and loved ones in case of an emergency. (You must upgrade to the app’s latest version to provide emergency contact information).
Didi’s customer service safety team has already grown three times in size and continues to develop better cooperation with police units to ensure passenger safety.
In Didi’s latest statement via their app, they expressed, “We are deeply grateful for the understanding of our users and driver-partners as we continue to tackle the challenge of raising driver standards and innovating for safety while ensuring reliable supply.”
The company has certainly gone through a barrage of criticism, and their swift reaction should be commended. Only time will tell if their latest safety measures prove to be enough.
READ MORE: Panic Button Upgrade Coming to Didi in Response to Recent Murders
[Top image by Matthew Bossons/That's]