The rental car company Bolt Drive in Estonia will use a new function that will provide drivers with feedback on their driving manners after each trip, and customers whose trip data will show repeated rapid braking or aggressive maneuvers will temporarily lose access to a rental car, ERR News reports.
Bolt Drive vehicles will now use a safety system that will monitor behavior in traffic. Each driver will receive a rating after each trip, which will be created by evaluating the times when they braked hard, accelerated too quickly, made aggressive maneuvers or other risky behavior. If the result indicates unsafe driving, Bolt will be able to temporarily restrict access to the rental car. In turn, safe driving will improve the rating and provide additional benefits.
Bolt communications specialist Diane Palev told ERR that for now, no restrictions or benefits will be imposed based on the rating, as the new system must first be tested and proven to be safe and reliable.
The company has not yet decided what the restrictions and additional benefits will be, and Palev said that various options are being considered. For example,
possible benefits could include discounts on services or access to a higher-class car.
Bolt Drive Estonia CEO Maksim Palonen said that the new system is aimed at promoting a responsible driving culture. He noted that most unsafe driving is addressed after incidents, but their goal is to build safe habits before an accident occurs.
Bolt has already tested the rating system with select users, and noted that speeding violations have decreased by 16%, while dangerous maneuvers have decreased by 7%.
Bolt has been using the Reckless Rider rating system for electric scooters since 2023. It has three warning levels. First, the user receives a warning that reckless driving has been detected and that they need to drive more carefully. If the driving style does not change, the speed of the electric scooter is reduced to 10 kilometers per hour. If this does not calm the rider, the user’s account is temporarily blocked. Palev noted that the warning system has significantly reduced the number of dangerous situations, especially on short trips.
Bolt Drive operates 900 rental cars in Estonia.
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