Gabriel's Campaign for Driver Safety

On 17 February 2021 private hire driver Gabriel Bringye was stabbed while on a job for Bolt.

It's been two years since this tragic murder and Bolt have done very little to implement adequate safety for drivers. Gabriel's murder was shocking and saddening for all private hire drivers and his family and his community are still traumatised by the experience.

Sadly, Gabriel's murder is not an isolated incident. Four private hire drivers have been stabbed and died in the last few years in London. Thousands of drivers have been physically assaulted while on the job. Many many more have experienced verbal abuse. Our internal survey found that 71 per cent of drivers have been assaulted on the job, with 82 per cent reporting experiences of verbal abuse.

These things are related. Some passengers think they can do anything to a driver and no-one will care. Drivers are treated with total disrespect like we are second-class citizens. Abuse and violence towards drivers has become accepted as a routine part of the job, with little to no support provided by operators and the authorities. We will take this no longer.

Take action

• Sign the petition to call on Bolt CEO Markus Villig to improve safety protections for private hire drivers, and also to be kept updated about the campaign and how you can get involved. Click here to start.

For the safety of private hire drivers and our passengers, we demand that:

1. Bolt must provide sick pay equivalent to average income for drivers who have been injured at work while they recover.
2. Bolt must implement the worker status that is being unlawfully denied to drivers. This would provide a vital safety net by providing paid holidays and ending poverty pay.
3. Bolt must verify customer ID with password protection on the app so that stolen phones cannot be used to order ‘trap jobs’.
4. Partitions and CCTV should be made available to drivers on all apps at a rate subsidised by licensing authorities and Bolt.
5. Bolt must introduce and properly staff a functioning complaints system to provide appropriate support for drivers on the job.
6. Bolt must recognise the IWGB and agree to meet regularly with union representatives to monitor ongoing support and safety improvements.

Gabriel could have been any one of us. Let us stand together for justice for Gabriel and better safety for all drivers.

Read more

• 3 March 2021: Minicab drivers strike over safety concerns following murder of London Bolt driver
• 5 May 2021: Bolt Hides from Workers Demanding Safety Protections After Murder of Driver
• 10 May 2021: VICE - He Was Stabbed to Death in a Bolt Cab. Rideshare Drivers Worry He Won't be the Last
• 17 February 2022: IWGB launches campaign for driver safety on anniversary of Gabriel Bringye’s murder
• 17 February 2022: Renata Bringye in Metro: My brother was killed by a passenger he picked up in his taxi
• 15 March 2022: Statement following the verdict on murder of Bolt driver Gabriel Bringye