TAIPEI (TVBS News) — To alleviate parents' stress in shuttling their children to school and various extracurricular activities, Uber has been rolling out a new feature, "Uber for teens." And it is set to launch in Taiwan in the second half of 2024.
Uber first introduced the teen version in the U.S. market last year, providing a safe and secure transportation option for busy parents and teenagers. The feature has recently been launched in Australia as well.
Parents will need to add their children, aged 13 to 17, to their family account and send an SMS invitation via the Uber app. Once the children download and log in through the invitation link, they can use the service.
The family account will be paid through the account holder's payment method. Parents can set a budget control, and teenagers can operate the app to call a car independently. Notifications of pick-up and drop-off locations and the journey process will pop up on the parent's phone. Parents can also check the details at any time through the app.
Every trip a teenager takes alone in an Uber will automatically generate safety features. These include using a safety PIN code to ensure the driver picking up the passenger is the same person shown on the app, real-time route display, and compulsory recording function. If the car stays in one place for too long, an immediate notification will be sent. Parents can also directly communicate with the driver through the app.
There are special requirements for drivers. Only those with a high rating of over 4.96 and a certain amount of online hours can accept orders to transport teenagers alone. In some market areas, drivers are even required to have special permits.