Bolt, DRTS To Promote Road Safety In FCT

Bolt, Nigeria’s leading ride-hailing company, in collaboration with the Transport Secretariat’s Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), organised the first driver-led Safety Summit and Sensitisation on the new regulations for E-Hailing operations in the FCT aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers, drivers and other road users.

The assistant director, DRTS, Mr Durojaye Olalekan outlined the new Public Transport Management Scheme (PTMS) explaining the operational guidelines for E-Hailing Operators and Drivers and the process of obtaining statutory documents.

Operators duly registered under the Companies Allied Matter Act 2020 will be required to obtain a licence to operate e-hailing and must have Application Programming Interface integration with the regulators in the FCT.

All e-hailing drivers must have a hybrid vehicle licence, hackney permit and must undergo training at the DRTS Model Drivers Institute to get their driver certification card. Drivers were encouraged to get their hybrid licence at no cost within the next three months.

At the safety panel session expertly moderated by Bolt, drivers took the helm in steering the discussion towards enhancing safety measures and addressing various concerns. A unanimous consensus emerged, highlighting key areas of focus: The need for all ride-hailing operators to enforce passenger verification through the use of state-issued identification cards.

Participants expressed a strong desire to address and mitigate harassment issues premised on tax/levies in specific area councils, and the panel emphasised the significance of improved collaboration with driver union groups to facilitate comprehensive driver profiling and enhance safety. These insights reflect a collective commitment to elevating safety standards within the industry.”