Top tips to remember when Ubering with your kids
Calling an Uber can be a great way to travel if you're stuck for transport. Here are things you should remember when Ubering with kids.
Using the Uber app can be a lifesaver when you and your kids are stuck for transport. It’s also a great way to get you and your family home safely if you’re celebrating a special occasion and may have had more than just a glass of wine. However, there are some important things you should know about using the Uber app when traveling with kids.
A word on the rules
When it comes to requesting rides in South Africa, Uber’s community guidelines has a no under 18s policy, meaning children are not allowed to have Uber accounts. If you’re using your Uber account or the Uber family profile for your children to request a ride, they must be accompanied by an adult to be allowed to ride.
A word on car seats
If you are planning on riding with small children, you should bring an age-appropriate child seat for them to ensure they travel safely. In South Africa, children under the age of three must be secured in a child seat in cars according to the law. Children between the ages of three and 14 years must ride in the backseat and be secured with an adult seat belt. However, best practice recommends booster seats for children under 1.5 metres.
A word on safety
The Uber app has a variety of safety features to give you and your family peace of mind when using Uber, with children or otherwise. All safety features can be accessed in the safety toolkit. These features include trusted contacts, allowing you to share the status of your trip with loved ones, an in-app emergency button, which, when pressed can connect directly to private emergency services, and security response.
Speed alerts and a drowsy driving feature remind drivers to keep to the speed limit and help drivers be responsible with the Uber app, helping move riders safely from one trip to the next. Uber also has an incident response team located in cities around the world who are trained to deal with any critical safety issues that arise. They also have a law enforcement team that is available to work with the police to assist with any investigations.
A word on support channels and feedback
Uber provides various support channels in the app which allows riders to either use the in-app help feature or the 24/7 phone support which can be accessed by simply tapping ‘Help’ in the main menu of the app. By selecting the ‘Call’ option, calls can be connected to Uber’s 24/7 support team. Feedback is important in improving customer experience. Not only does it create transparency, but it also ensures there is accountability. Uber’s feedback and rating feature allow drivers and riders to confidentially rate and provide feedback to one another after every trip.
