Amid recent attacks on e-hailing operators in South Africa, local e-hailing company Maxim has introduced an in-app SOS feature to give drivers access to assistance in potentially dangerous situations.
According to the company, the feature forms part of its broader efforts to strengthen driver safety on the road and provide additional support during emergencies.
Maxim said it recognises that drivers spend long hours on the road and can be particularly vulnerable to criminal activity.
As a result, the new SOS feature gives drivers access to three assistance options directly through the Maxim app, alerting a trusted contact or nearby Maxim drivers.
Lesoli Lemphane, Head of Development at Maxim South Africa, explained that driver safety is extremely important to the company, particularly as e-hailing drivers continue to face risks while working.
“The new SOS feature gives drivers another practical way to call for help and alert people around them when they find themselves in a difficult situation,” he said.
“By connecting them with emergency services, a trusted emergency contact and nearby drivers at the press of a button, we hope this feature will provide an additional layer of support and reassurance to those who spend their days on the road.”
When activated, the SOS function lets drivers call South Africa’s mobile emergency number directly from their device, send a message to an emergency contact, or send an SOS signal to nearby Maxim drivers.
Should the first option be selected, a designated contact receives an SMS explaining that the driver is experiencing an emergency, with a link to the driver’s reported location on a map.
If the nearby driver option is activated, all Maxim drivers in the vicinity will receive the SOS signal and the driver’s location, allowing them to assist where possible.
“For drivers who spend significant portions of their day on the road, having accessible safety tools can provide additional reassurance,” said Maxim.
“The ability to quickly communicate an emergency and share a location can also help ensure that those who may be able to assist are alerted as soon as possible.”
Criminals are targeting e-hailers in South Africa
E-hailing drivers have become a common target for hijackers and other criminals in South Africa, which has become more apparent since many drivers introduced dashboard cameras in their cars.
This follows local government-mandated regulations requiring the e-hailing industry to include safety measures like panic buttons and dashcams.
However, these cameras have since captured instances of driver attacks by criminals who sometimes pose as customers only to attack the victim a short way into the journey.
Melithemba Mnguni, secretary general of the E-hailing Partners Council, told 702 that these incidents do not reflect a sudden increase in attacks on drivers, but rather a long-standing problem that is only becoming apparent since drivers have dashcams.
“The robberies, like we always say, are on a daily basis. I wouldn’t really say they are increasing, because they’ve been constant for a long time,” Mnguni said.
He noted that the council hoped dashcams would deter criminals who target drivers; however, the footage emerging from incidents shows how brazen some thieves and hijackers have become.
Drivers are also particularly vulnerable because attackers can use e-hailing apps to arrange a meeting with their chosen victim and lure them into an isolated location, instead of targeting someone on the street.
Mnguni added that it was a major problem, as criminals can create profiles on these apps and pose as legitimate customers before an attack.
While dashcams provide valuable evidence of these incidents, the council is disappointed that they have not deterred criminals as much as they had hoped.
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