Uber introduces new ride-sharing service for teenagers in Australia.
The company announced the launch of a new service tailored to busy parents and focused on ensuring their children’s safety.
Uber has introduced a ride-share service specifically designed for children aged between 13 and 17 in Australia to accommodate the needs of busy parents.
The service, known as Uber for Teens, officially commenced on April 23 following successful trials in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
While Uber for Teens is initially available only in the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, and South Australia due to regulatory requirements, parents in other regions can sign up for the service in the coming months.
Emma Foley, the mobility operations director at Uber Australia and New Zealand, highlighted the significant demand for ride-share services catering to minors.
Referring to a survey of 1,041 parents, Foley mentioned that more than half of the respondents struggled to transport their children to various activities due to work commitments.
“We understand that many parents are balancing work and multiple children’s schedules, trying to get them to after-school activities,” she stated in remarks obtained by AAP.
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“Whether it’s two parents with three kids or a single parent with multiple kids, trying to get your kids to Saturday morning sports across different parts of town can be a big challenge.”
The new ride-share service will feature safety measures to ensure children’s well-being, such as providing live GPS tracking of the rides to parents, notifying them of any route changes, and enabling them to contact the driver if needed.
Furthermore, children will be required to use a personal identification number (PIN) to verify their driver each time they request a service.
Only experienced and highly rated Uber drivers with the necessary accreditations, such as Working with Children Check or Working with Vulnerable People registration, will be permitted to transport underage passengers.
“This service may not be suitable for everyone as parents have varying levels of comfort regarding their children’s maturity at different ages, so it will be a decision for individual families,” she added.
Uber to Compensate Australian Taxi Drivers $272 Million
Uber recently agreed to pay $272 million (US$175 million) to taxi drivers in Australia as part of a historic class-action settlement.
The class action, originating from a lawsuit by a Melbourne taxi driver in 2019 and later involving over 8,000 other taxi and charter vehicle drivers, alleged income losses and depreciation of license value due to Uber’s introduction of cheaper and more convenient services.
Although the case was scheduled to proceed until May 17, Uber opted to settle beforehand.
Uber initially launched its service in Australia in 2012 without the required permits, triggering protests from the taxi industry.
In 2015, the Australian Capital Territory authorized ride-sharing services, followed by New South Wales and the rest of the country.
Rex Widerstrom contributed to this article.
