Young people aged 13 to 17 from Quebec can now order an Uber ride using their own account.
• Also read: $10 million class action lawsuit against Uber
The American giant announced this at an event on Wednesday. Teens can be alone in the car, but their parents or guardians can follow them remotely through the app.
The new option will be available Wednesday throughout Quebec and major cities in Canada and the United States.
People under the age of 18 were only allowed to use Uber when accompanied by an adult in the car. But that didn’t stop them, the company admits.
“In some cases, young people ride in Ubers. This situation is not ideal for the driver, teenagers or parents due to the lack of visibility,” Sachin Kansal, Uber’s vice president of product management, told The Washington Post.
New passengers must use a special family account that has some additional security features. For example, young people must give the driver a security code before the start of the race.
Parents can also call the driver directly during the race while the teenager’s smartphone is making an audio recording of the race.
No law in Quebec
In Quebec, there is nothing to prevent a taxi company from taking children under the age of 18, although parental authorization is generally required.
“In the industry that works with parental approval, it’s not like taking a plane where there are laws,” explains Jean Fortier, Managing Director of Taxi Coop.
The taxi trade, for example, transports children to schools, where arrangements are made with parents and the school.
But when it comes time to pick up a 13-year-old in his car who raises his hand in the middle of the road, the decision rests with the driver.
“If the child can pay the fare and they seem sincere, we’ll take them with us. We don’t leave anyone in need behind,” says Mr. Fortier, summarizing the current situation in the industry.