Uber and Maruti join hands to create safe drivers

With the cab business burgeoning, the vacancy for drivers is on the rise as well. But more than just drivers, the need of the hour is also to have safe drivers. Uber and Maruti Suzuki have come together to train over 30,000 individuals/Uber partner-drivers in safe driving over a period of 3 years.

The initiative is aimed at providing aspiring commercial drivers with micro-entrepreneurship opportunities and equipping them with necessary skill to operate on the Uber platform. The pilot phase will be rolled out in Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi-NCR region and will be introduced in Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Pune thereafter.

As per the MoU, Uber will provide qualified leads of potential driver-partners to Maruti Suzuki for facilitating them with commercial driver training. Under the specialized training module developed by Maruti Suzuki, the drivers will undergo pre-assessment tests, theoretical training, practical training and post-training assessments for a period of 30 days.

While the pre-assessment will be undertaken by Uber, the entire training process followed by post-training assessment with grades attributed to the drivers will be Maruti Suzuki’s responsibility. The theoretical segment will familiarize the learner with basic requirements such as vehicle controls & mechanisms, road signage, rules and markings, driving in difficult conditions, maintenance & fuel efficiency tips, law and driving, attitudinal change towards road safety etc. The practical training covers intensive training in driving pre-checks, risk perception, driving technique, safety driving, rules of the road and motoring skills.

Commenting on the association, Mr. RS Kalsi, Executive Director (Marketing and Sales), Maruti Suzuki, said, “We are excited to partner with Uber India to train individuals in safe driving and provide micro-entrepreneurship opportunities to them. We expect to train 30,000 drivers under this programme. Through this partnership, we will be able to promote safe and responsible driving while facilitating meaningful livelihood for youth.”