Bolt has announced a major update to its security suite: a feature that allows drivers to flag and map high-risk locations. The rollout is a direct response to driver feedback, providing the fleet with more autonomy and visibility when navigating potentially dangerous areas.
The new enhancement is part of Bolt’s ongoing investment in safety and reliability, and reflects direct feedback from drivers who have called for greater visibility and control when making trip decisions.
Under the new system, drivers can suggest specific locations where they have experienced or anticipate safety concerns. These submissions are reviewed by Bolt’s safety team using aggregated trip data, historical safety reports and platform risk indicators before any location is mapped. Once verified, drivers receive a clear in-app notification when they receive a trip request to a mapped high-risk destination. Critically, drivers who choose to decline such trips will not face penalties, temporary suspensions or rating reductions.
Dimmy Kanyankole, Senior General Manager, East Africa said: “Safety is at the core of our business. Our driver partners are the backbone of our platform, and this enhancement gives them greater awareness and the confidence to make informed decisions without fear of penalties. It is about empowering drivers while strengthening trust across the platform.”
Bolt emphasises that the feature is grounded strictly in safety data and driver-reported incidents, not demographic or socioeconomic characteristics. Locations are not automatically labeled based on a single report. Each submission undergoes a structured, data-backed review before being mapped.
Mapped areas are continuously reassessed and can be updated or removed as conditions change. The feature does not block riders from requesting trips or drivers from accepting them; it serves as an advisory tool to enhance awareness while preserving access. Drivers retain full autonomy and are not penalised for declining verified high-risk trips.
“We are not labeling neighborhoods or communities. We are responding to specific safety signals shared by drivers and supported by platform data. This is about risk mitigation and not exclusion,” added Dimmy.
By strengthening driver safety, Bolt aims to reinforce service reliability while fostering a sustainable and secure working environment. The new enhancement builds on Bolt’s broader safety ecosystem, which includes real-time trip tracking, in-app emergency assistance features, two-way rating systems, 24/7 safety support and ongoing driver engagement initiatives.
As ride-hailing continues to evolve across Kenya, Bolt maintains that responsible innovation must place driver wellbeing at the center. By integrating community-informed insights with platform data, the company says it is taking a balanced approach that prioritizes safety, fairness and operational continuity.
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