SaferTaxi is about to release its new iPhone App for the United Kingdom, Argentina and the the United States. Yes, not only is the iPhone app a big piece of news, but also that we are expanding into the US! To have a sneak preview how the iPhone app looks and works click on the video below. However, do not despair if you do not own an iPhone. Our programmers are also working on and Android app and we will then focus on BlackBerry smart phones.
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Wednesday 18 August 2010
DRIVE TO MAKE LONDON A SAFER PLACE
• 5,000 women attacked by illegal minicab drivers each year
• 20% of women get into taxis without checking whether they are licensed
• Over 12,500 laptops, iPods and memory sticks left in London taxis
London – August 18, 2010 – Taxi drivers across the country including London’s most famous black cabbie, Mitch Winehouse are gearing up for the launch of a new text messaging service to combat the lack of taxi safety. SaferTaxi (www.safertaxi.com) aspires to fight minicab and taxi crime by offering a platform where users register their rides, rate their experiences and share safety information about their driver and journey.
SaferTaxi applies the user generated hotel and restaurant rating concept to the taxi industry. By registering rides and using customer feedback, SaferTaxi empowers customers and makes journeys safer, more convenient and more enjoyable.
Mitch Winehouse said "As a taxi driver it’s easy to understand the benefits that SaferTaxi delivers and I would encourage anyone concerned about safety to join up. We are trying to create a safer taxi environment and would urge the people of London to use the service."
There is strong evidence linking bogus cab drivers and the rise of sex attacks. Last year there were *140 reported sexual assaults by illegal minicab drivers in London. The Metropolitan Police Service and other agencies are working to eradicate the problem of illegal cabs, but acknowledge there are still some out there. There are an estimated *30,000 unlicensed cab drivers operating across the UK, and it’s thought that over *5,000 women are attacked by them every year. According to The Havens, Centre for Rape Victims, 20% of women get into taxis without even checking whether they are licensed.
SaferTaxi launches at a time that sees an influx of graduates and tourists to the Capital, many of whom are unfamiliar with London’s late night travel options. Ann Elledge, Director of Personal Safety for Suzy Lamplugh Trust said: "Suzy Lamplugh Trust is happy to support any initiative that improves the personal safety of the general public and the idea behind SaferTaxi would certainly appear to do that, as well as encouraging people to think about their safety. We will be closely monitoring how this initiative progresses and hope that the general public use the service and use it responsibly."
Sarah Coates, Campaign Leader of the Hail Safer Campaign added "Current laws state that taxi drivers can have criminal backgrounds. While the majority of Taxi drivers are decent and honest people, SaferTaxi is a scheme that can help prevent people getting into a wrong taxi. We support this scheme fully and hope that everyone who travels in a taxi uses SaferTaxi."
The aim of the service is to ensure people in the country get home safely by making drivers accountable. The pioneering text message service allows the user to text the registration number before entering the vehicle and a record is created at www.SaferTaxi.com. The registration with SaferTaxi acts as a prevention mechanism, as the driver now knows that by registering his car the user left a trace. This system of accountability will encourage the best and safest driver behaviour. As a second mechanism the taxi registration number is immediately compared against reported incidents and the rating database. The user will receive instantly a text message with the details of any previous reported incidents and a rating for the car. The immediate response will enable passengers to make an informed decision on whether to enter the car, stay in the car or to leave. Once the ride is over the user has the option to rate the journey (via mobile or online). In addition, users can chose to activate the DoubleSafety option on a registration by registration basis whereby a text message needs to be sent confirming a safe arrival. Failure to send this second text message within one hour of the ride registration will result in the user’s designated emergency contact being notified about the time and registration number of the last taken vehicle. The DoubleSafety service helps parents, husbands, wives and friends to make sure that their loved ones get home safely. The SaferTaxi service can be used without registering online, however, to activate the DoubleSafety option passengers first need create an account with the details of the emergency contact.
Customers can choose to pay-as-you-go (50p per message) or pay £3.99 a month for member subscription which allows unlimited usage. To try out the service, SaferTaxi offers the first month for free when signing up.
The new service, the first of its kind is also launching in Buenos Aries and New York with plans to roll it out across the world. SaferTaxi offers customers a service to register, receive instant feedback and rate taxi rides and is currently being promoted across London in pubs, clubs, women’s organisations, black cabs and minicab companies. SaferTaxi also helps passengers recover lost items; there are over 12,500 laptops, iPods and memory sticks left in taxis every year in the capital.
--ENDS—
Press contacts: To arrange an interview with SaferTaxi’s team or receive more information about the company, please contact Siobhan O’Connor at Taylor Herring PR – 0208 206 5151 / 07966 177025 Siobhan.OConnor@taylorherring.com
About SaferTaxi
SaferTaxi was founded by a team of international entrepreneurs from Harvard Business School and The Wharton School, who are supported by an accomplished group of advisors with broad experience in venture capital, technology and academia. SaferTaxi has been selected for inclusion in the Wharton Venture Initiation Program, a start-up incubator at The Wharton School, and has also been awarded the Rock/Lebor Entrepreneurial Fellowship from Harvard Business School.
SaferTaxi is currently operational in London and Buenos Aires and plans to further expand to major cities in the US and Latin America.
For more information please visit www.safertaxi.com or join our community on Facebook.
*Research stats sourced from Transport for London, The Havens, Centre for Rape Victims (Jan-2010), www.taxiwise.com
• 20% of women get into taxis without checking whether they are licensed
• Over 12,500 laptops, iPods and memory sticks left in London taxis
London – August 18, 2010 – Taxi drivers across the country including London’s most famous black cabbie, Mitch Winehouse are gearing up for the launch of a new text messaging service to combat the lack of taxi safety. SaferTaxi (www.safertaxi.com) aspires to fight minicab and taxi crime by offering a platform where users register their rides, rate their experiences and share safety information about their driver and journey.
SaferTaxi applies the user generated hotel and restaurant rating concept to the taxi industry. By registering rides and using customer feedback, SaferTaxi empowers customers and makes journeys safer, more convenient and more enjoyable.
Mitch Winehouse said "As a taxi driver it’s easy to understand the benefits that SaferTaxi delivers and I would encourage anyone concerned about safety to join up. We are trying to create a safer taxi environment and would urge the people of London to use the service."
There is strong evidence linking bogus cab drivers and the rise of sex attacks. Last year there were *140 reported sexual assaults by illegal minicab drivers in London. The Metropolitan Police Service and other agencies are working to eradicate the problem of illegal cabs, but acknowledge there are still some out there. There are an estimated *30,000 unlicensed cab drivers operating across the UK, and it’s thought that over *5,000 women are attacked by them every year. According to The Havens, Centre for Rape Victims, 20% of women get into taxis without even checking whether they are licensed.
SaferTaxi launches at a time that sees an influx of graduates and tourists to the Capital, many of whom are unfamiliar with London’s late night travel options. Ann Elledge, Director of Personal Safety for Suzy Lamplugh Trust said: "Suzy Lamplugh Trust is happy to support any initiative that improves the personal safety of the general public and the idea behind SaferTaxi would certainly appear to do that, as well as encouraging people to think about their safety. We will be closely monitoring how this initiative progresses and hope that the general public use the service and use it responsibly."
Sarah Coates, Campaign Leader of the Hail Safer Campaign added "Current laws state that taxi drivers can have criminal backgrounds. While the majority of Taxi drivers are decent and honest people, SaferTaxi is a scheme that can help prevent people getting into a wrong taxi. We support this scheme fully and hope that everyone who travels in a taxi uses SaferTaxi."
The aim of the service is to ensure people in the country get home safely by making drivers accountable. The pioneering text message service allows the user to text the registration number before entering the vehicle and a record is created at www.SaferTaxi.com. The registration with SaferTaxi acts as a prevention mechanism, as the driver now knows that by registering his car the user left a trace. This system of accountability will encourage the best and safest driver behaviour. As a second mechanism the taxi registration number is immediately compared against reported incidents and the rating database. The user will receive instantly a text message with the details of any previous reported incidents and a rating for the car. The immediate response will enable passengers to make an informed decision on whether to enter the car, stay in the car or to leave. Once the ride is over the user has the option to rate the journey (via mobile or online). In addition, users can chose to activate the DoubleSafety option on a registration by registration basis whereby a text message needs to be sent confirming a safe arrival. Failure to send this second text message within one hour of the ride registration will result in the user’s designated emergency contact being notified about the time and registration number of the last taken vehicle. The DoubleSafety service helps parents, husbands, wives and friends to make sure that their loved ones get home safely. The SaferTaxi service can be used without registering online, however, to activate the DoubleSafety option passengers first need create an account with the details of the emergency contact.
Customers can choose to pay-as-you-go (50p per message) or pay £3.99 a month for member subscription which allows unlimited usage. To try out the service, SaferTaxi offers the first month for free when signing up.
The new service, the first of its kind is also launching in Buenos Aries and New York with plans to roll it out across the world. SaferTaxi offers customers a service to register, receive instant feedback and rate taxi rides and is currently being promoted across London in pubs, clubs, women’s organisations, black cabs and minicab companies. SaferTaxi also helps passengers recover lost items; there are over 12,500 laptops, iPods and memory sticks left in taxis every year in the capital.
--ENDS—
Press contacts: To arrange an interview with SaferTaxi’s team or receive more information about the company, please contact Siobhan O’Connor at Taylor Herring PR – 0208 206 5151 / 07966 177025 Siobhan.OConnor@taylorherring.com
About SaferTaxi
SaferTaxi was founded by a team of international entrepreneurs from Harvard Business School and The Wharton School, who are supported by an accomplished group of advisors with broad experience in venture capital, technology and academia. SaferTaxi has been selected for inclusion in the Wharton Venture Initiation Program, a start-up incubator at The Wharton School, and has also been awarded the Rock/Lebor Entrepreneurial Fellowship from Harvard Business School.
SaferTaxi is currently operational in London and Buenos Aires and plans to further expand to major cities in the US and Latin America.
For more information please visit www.safertaxi.com or join our community on Facebook.
*Research stats sourced from Transport for London, The Havens, Centre for Rape Victims (Jan-2010), www.taxiwise.com
Monday 26 July 2010
Sneak Preview
SaferTaxi is finally going life in London. Have a sneak preview of our video that will be shown in the stadium during all four games of the Emirates Cup (31 of July and 1st August)!
Wednesday 10 March 2010
Sunday 14 February 2010
Frist Trial Run In London
SaferTaxi is finally going live - at least with a limited trial project in London. Twenty friends of the four founders were asked to participate in the trial project last week. The initial results are very encouraging. However, the founders also wanted to experience the power of SaferTaxi directly by sending Clemens to London. By the first day of his stay he had already used four taxis - two Black Cabs and two Mini Cabs (or private hires). The results were astonishing. Firstly, upon informing the taxi drivers that Clemens would register the ride with SaferTaxi, three out of the four drivers responded that they thought it was a really “cool” idea and something absolutely necessary in London. The fourth taxi driver only grunted “Do what you have to do”. Secondly, the service level and friendliness of all four drivers increased immediately. Clemens was asked if he wanted the light on or off, whether he wanted more heat in the car, or if he had any route preferences. The registration combined with the instant feedback option seems to work extremely well! Similar experiences are being reported by the trial participants.
Monday 23 November 2009
Traveling Safe!
Not long ago, when I was still earning (sigh!), my good friend R was discussing with me her complicated relationship with taxi drivers. Continuous travelling to various cities in India not withstanding, she had to deal with the often bizarre taxi's that were allocated to her for her various trips. Since most of the taxi ordering and servicing system in India is outsourced by firms, she could never really predict who would service her on any particular day. Since the firm would pass her number along to the cab drivers, within 3 years she had the dubious distinction of having her number available with more than 50 of them, spread across all parts of the country. Worse still, they also knew the addresses of all the guest houses/hotels she stayed in. While she has not fallen into any kind of trouble yet, it will not be altogether surprising if she does. The problem here is not unique to India and I can see it happen potentially anywhere in the world.
Last week, I had a discussion with one of my section mates C, who was telling me about this web startup that people could use to log into their account and provide information everytime they would travel from one location to another along with details of the taxi they were in (number, destination etc. ) . In case of an emergency, the information would reach a chosen contact who would then be able to use the information to track the taxi down. This can even be used as a general informational website where people from different geographies post their taxi ride experiences. This post is a first step towards that end.
While not solving R's problem of having her phone number flying all around the place, if a critical mass of people used this especially in a country like India where there have been a lot of concerns around late night traveling in taxis, this could be a powerful tool in the hands of the public to safeguard themselves. Also, if the movement achieves certain momentum, taxi drivers will be scared to death of taking situational advantage.
(This blog is a slightly modified version of the original blog that can be found here)
Last week, I had a discussion with one of my section mates C, who was telling me about this web startup that people could use to log into their account and provide information everytime they would travel from one location to another along with details of the taxi they were in (number, destination etc. ) . In case of an emergency, the information would reach a chosen contact who would then be able to use the information to track the taxi down. This can even be used as a general informational website where people from different geographies post their taxi ride experiences. This post is a first step towards that end.
While not solving R's problem of having her phone number flying all around the place, if a critical mass of people used this especially in a country like India where there have been a lot of concerns around late night traveling in taxis, this could be a powerful tool in the hands of the public to safeguard themselves. Also, if the movement achieves certain momentum, taxi drivers will be scared to death of taking situational advantage.
(This blog is a slightly modified version of the original blog that can be found here)
Wednesday 18 November 2009
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Directgov - Taxi safety
Please see the link below for the official UK Taxi & Transport safety advice!
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Publictransport/TaxisAndPrivateHireVehicles/DG_10036282
SaferTaxi - Making taxi rides safer!
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Publictransport/TaxisAndPrivateHireVehicles/DG_10036282
SaferTaxi - Making taxi rides safer!
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