Bolt Drivers Support Government’s New Safety Plan

Bolt Drivers Welcome Government’s New Safety Initiative

Dar es Salaam, March 20, 2025 – Bolt drivers across Tanzania have welcomed the government's newly announced safety initiative aimed at protecting both drivers and passengers. The move, introduced by the Ministry of Transport, seeks to address major security concerns faced by ride-hailing service providers, particularly the risk of picking up unauthorized passengers.

The government’s new plan is designed to improve verification measures, ensuring that drivers can confirm passenger identities before accepting a ride. Additionally, the initiative will enhance designated parking areas for Bolt drivers at key locations such as airports, providing a structured system to boost security and ease passenger pickups.

Addressing a Critical Safety Concern

Speaking at the Bolt Drivers' Online Safety Summit, Andrew Magombana, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Transport, reassured drivers that the government is committed to their safety.

“We recognize that one of the biggest challenges drivers face is picking up a passenger who is different from the one who booked the ride. This has been a major security risk,” Magombana stated.

Under the new policy, drivers will have better tools to verify passenger identities before rides commence, mitigating risks of crime and impersonation.

Driver Experiences: A Step Toward Safer Rides

For Bolt drivers like Hussein Juma, who has been working with the company for three years, each ride carries an element of uncertainty.

“Some drivers have been attacked because they unknowingly picked up a passenger using someone else’s account,” Juma shared. “Knowing that measures are being put in place to prevent this gives us relief.”

Bolt Tanzania’s Managing Director, Dimmy Kanyankole, underscored the company’s ongoing efforts to strengthen security, including crackdowns on unauthorized account-sharing among drivers.

“These measures have significantly reduced crime incidents and improved safety,” Kanyankole stated. “Events like this summit are crucial for enhancing collaboration between Bolt and its drivers.”

Healthcare Concerns: A Growing Demand

While safety improvements have been widely praised, another pressing issue was raised during the summit—access to affordable healthcare.

Fay Mashallah, Chairman of the Tanzania Online Drivers Association (TODA), urged Bolt to support its drivers by facilitating affordable health insurance plans.

“Our biggest request is for Bolt to help us access cost-effective health insurance,” Mashallah said. “This would allow us and our families to receive medical care without financial hardship.”

For many drivers, their livelihood depends entirely on their ability to work. Without health coverage, even minor illnesses can lead to days off the road, loss of income, and overwhelming medical expenses.

Police Urge Cooperation for Safer Roads

Also present at the summit was Kinondoni Regional Police Commander, Solomoni Mwangamilo, who emphasized the need for cooperation between drivers and law enforcement during road inspections.

“There have been cases where drivers feign illness to evade road checks,” Mwangamilo noted. “Our role is to ensure your safety, so let’s work together to improve road security.”

With safety and welfare concerns taking center stage, the summit served as a crucial platform for open dialogue between Bolt drivers, company representatives, and government authorities. As efforts to enhance driver security gain momentum, attention now shifts to addressing healthcare access—a key issue that remains unresolved.