Grab Philippines is accelerating its commitment to safety with a multi-faceted strategy, introducing new tech features and comprehensive driver safety education programs. This enhances the overall safety of its platform.
As the holiday season approaches, Grab is proactively ramping up new measures to ensure safe rides for its passengers and driver-partners.
With a 99.99% safety record — the highest in the industry — Grab remains focused on setting new benchmarks for safety in the ride-hailing industry by further strengthening its safety measures, ensuring every ride booked on its platform meets its stringent safety standards.
“Safety is at the heart of everything we do,” says EJ Dela Vega, Grab Philippines head of mobility. “Our approach goes beyond the platform – we take an active approach in ensuring everyone has a safe ride. We have ongoing dialogues with our passengers, driver-partners and government stakeholders, taking an active role in ensuring safe rides across the industry. Everyone plays a part in maintaining safety, and by working together, we can create a safer journey for all,” adds Dela Vega
Tech-Driven Safety Enhancements
Grab continues to harness technology to build upon its existing safety protocols. This September, Grab Philippines is rolling out several new safety features, including:
- Audio Protect: An opt-in feature that records audio during rides, securely storing the data for future reference in case of disputes or safety issues. With the help of Artificial Intelligence, Audio Protect is also set to evolve to leverage in-vehicular audio signals to detect potential safety risks in real-time and improve real-time response mechanisms.
- Driver Selfie Verification: Drivers are now required to take random selfies throughout the day to verify their identity, complementing the existing pre-trip selfie checks. This ensures that only registered drivers are operating at all times.
These join an array of existing safety mechanisms like Grab’s Safety Center, which includes an Emergency SOS button for direct law enforcement contact, and an accessible “Report an Issue” function for swift lodging of concerns. Apart from these, Grab uses a real-time Trip Monitoring feature that detects unexpected stops or route anomalies, promptly offering assistance to drivers and passengers if needed. The “Share Your Ride” feature also allows passengers to share their trip details with trusted contacts, adding another layer of security.
Cultivating a Safety-First Culture Among Drivers
Beyond technology, Grab is reinforcing its commitment to driver safety with rigorous training and behavior-shaping initiatives. Grab Philippines is collaborating with key institutions to cultivate a safety-first mindset among its driver-partners:
- In partnership with various organizations and institutions, Grab will also introduce new training modules focused on behavioral psychology and safety. These modules will form part of the GrabAcademy curriculum and provide drivers with the skills needed to maintain a safe and positive riding environment.
- Crime Prevention Awareness with the Philippine National Police (PNP): Grab and the PNP have formalized a partnership that includes road safety seminars and crime prevention workshops for drivers, as well as streamlined processes for driver clearances.
- Safe Spaces Education with the Philippine Commission for Women: Grab has worked with the Commission to develop educational content that helps drivers understand their rights and responsibilities under the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313), promoting gender-sensitive and safe interactions.
A Whole-Of-Industry Approach to Safety
Grab’s commitment to safety doesn’t end with drivers and passengers — it extends to partnerships and long-standing collaborations with government agencies like the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the PNP. Together, these organizations aim to create a safer ride-hailing ecosystem through continuous innovation and collaboration.
“Safety isn’t a one-time initiative – it’s an ongoing commitment that evolves with the needs of our users and our communities,” Dela Vega emphasized. “At Grab, we remain firm in our mission to keep raising the bar for safety standards on our platform, ensuring that both passengers and drivers feel secure with every ride.”
As Grab pushes forward, its promise to prioritize safety will remain a constant, ensuring that every trip is safer than the last.