The app that gets you home safely

You can be sure this is truly the age of technology when there is even a digital solution to drinking and driving.
Gone are the days of having to draw straws for the designated driver because getting home has never been this easy.
You thought you had heard of every possible mobile application? Well now there is an app that brings a driver directly to you door.
Downed all your taxi money? Never mind, with a click of a button the app deducts your fair from your credit card.
Uber App, which is available on smart phones in 26 countries worldwide, was brought to South Africa in August last year and tested in Johannesburg. By December, the service was available in Durban and Cape Town.
The good news for Dolphin Coast locals is that Salt Rock is right on the border of the app’s reach, meaning you can catch a ride, just.
You simply download the app on your mobile phones and sign up.
You can even track your lift on its way to you, see who your driver is and let your friends know where you are.
You will be taken to your destination in an “Uber Black” car, in a range from BMWs, Audis, Jaguars to Mercedes Benz sedans.
Alex Droulers, Uber’s Durban manager, highlights the exclusive nature of the service.
“We are offering a high end service with luxury sedans. If you look at our pricing, its high quality service at an affordable price.”
A fare costs a minimum of R35 and travel costs are R2.10 a minute plus R6.80 a kilometre. The flat rate from King Shaka International Airport to Ballito is R320.
Droulers believes that the accessibility and quality of their service has helped it grow and says Uber has already become popular in the Durban area.
Nic Jordan, the owner of Holla Trails, recently used the service and was impressed with the whole experience.
Jordan was taken from Salt Rock to Collisheen for R123. This is on par with other local private taxi services. When the Courier called another popular provider they quoted us R120 for the same trip.
“I have used it once and within a few seconds of asking for lift I was told the driver was on his way,” said Jordan.
“The driver rocked up in a BMW and was a professional looking guy. What was cool is that I could watch his progress all the way to me. I even saw that he got a bit lost on the way and I called him to check up but he was back on track.”
“The nice thing about it was there was no cash involved and no wondering about fare rates as it is all set.”
Jordan said he was surprised that more people in Ballito do not know about it.