Rising fuel prices and high cost of living are pushing both commercial drivers and passengers to negotiate fares directly, leading to an increase in off-platform transactions.

According to the ride-hailing outfit, Bolt, the app cannot monitor such offline rides, leaving both parties without the protective oversight of the app.

Bolt management says without the ability to track movements, the company cannot intervene in case of emergencies, hence users forfeiting crucial safety features, including insurance benefits.

The Kumasi Bolt’s Driver Safety Summit served as a platform to actively address safety concerns to discourage illicit road practices and ensure the well-being of its users.

The ride-hailing outfit disclosed rampant offline usage of Bolt services done at the blind side of the app in efforts to adjust to rising economic situations in Ghana.

Senior Operations Manager of Bolt, Henry Whyte says this tactic is prohibited and leaves passengers and drivers vulnerable to safety risks.

He indicated Bolt has interventions that should be explored to mitigate economic conditions.

“Fuel prices are increasing, drivers and passengers are being impacted. So they are now forced to bargain with riders. We are highlighting that this is a dangerous act, because Bolt cannot track your ride or have visibility of their movements and if anything happens on the trip, the bolt cannot help. Both users lose out benefits including insurance interventions. Offline trips form part of the safety concerns and processes we are seeking to address.

“If it’s an issue of pricing due to economic situations, we consistently monitor the drivers’ professional expenses, so it's not a one-way affair. We monitor the pressure on the earnings of the drivers and adjust our pricing for them. How fuel prices and cost of living go up, and how they are being impacted. And for passengers, we are throwing demand campaigns, and discounts where they are also eased,” he said.

The Bolt driver safety summit was themed: “Driving the Wheels of Safety: Pick Up to Drop Off”.

The Summit aims to promote safe driving practices and enhance safety measures for both drivers and passengers.

The Summit provided a platform to discuss safety innovations, share experiences, and strengthen Bolt's commitment to create and enhance a secure ride-hailing experience.

Public Policy Specialist for Bolt, Ewoma Jerry-Ogeme, says the Summit will improve collaborative efforts to ensure safety of drivers and passengers.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to fostering a safer environment, ensuring that users of our platform are safe and are able to operate peacefully. We recently launched a global safety campaign. And today's event adds to the many efforts to have safe driving with the bolt. It’s not the job of one person. Safety starts with you the driver, before you can work collaboratively with other stakeholders,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ashanti Regional Manager of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Amos Abaka, outlined measures to regulate ride hailing vehicles in the region.