South Africa: Uber Pilots Dashcams in Cape Town

Internet ride-sharing app Uber has launched a month-long dashcam pilot in Cape Town amid the service experiencing recent safety concerns.

The digital cameras record what is happening in front of the Uber cars on the road as well as inside vehicles where riders and drivers sit, Uber Africa spokesperson Samantha Allenberg told Fin24.

The dashcams have been placed in a select number of participating driver-partners in Cape Town and form part of a four week pilot, said Allenberg.

"The purpose of these dash camera's is to provide riders and drivers with a sense of security knowing that if they are involved in an incident or accident that the event was recorded," Allenberg told Fin24.

Uber Pilots Dashcams in Cape Town

"Riders will be notified about the AV [audio visual] monitoring pilot when a driver accepts their request. They [riders] can choose to decline the ride if they do not agree to the recording," Allenberg added.

Panic buttons

Meanwhile, Uber is further piloting panic or 'SOS' button technology in its cars in Johannesburg.