Uber launches taxi service for teens, promising safe rides in Prague and Brno

Global ride-sharing giant Uber has launched a new service aimed specifically at teenagers aged 13 to 17 in Prague and Brno. Dubbed Uber for Teens, this initiative seeks to enhance the safety and comfort of young passengers by integrating parental oversight through a specialized family account.

The service, which will be gradually expanded to other Czech cities in the coming weeks, provides a solution that allows parents to monitor their children’s rides in real-time while ensuring secure travel.

The Uber for Teens accounts come with multiple safety features designed to protect young riders. Parents are required to first create these accounts for their children, which then allows them to book rides independently.

Once a ride is scheduled, parents receive real-time notifications, including information about the driver, vehicle, and destination. The app includes live tracking, alerts for unexpected events, and an emergency button, all of which are automatically enabled and cannot be disabled by the driver, teen, or parent.

Before getting into the car, teens are prompted to enter a unique PIN code, which must be verified by the driver through the app. This security measure ensures that the right teenager enters the right car.

If a driver deviates from the planned route, makes unexpected stops, or prematurely ends the ride, the app will alert both the teen and the driver, confirming their well-being.

To develop these safety standards, Uber collaborated with child safety organizations such as Safe Kids Worldwide and ParentZone. The collaboration included consultations with hundreds of parents and teenagers across Europe, helping Uber refine the service to meet safety needs effectively.

"Through our partnership with Uber, we aimed to create a service that provides safe travel from start to finish," Vicki Shotbolt, CEO of ParentZone, states through a press release.

Uber has been operating in the Czech Republic since 2014. The platform has grown significantly in the country over the past 10 years, with over 23,000 drivers serving more than 4.6 million passengers across major cities including Prague, Brno, Ostrava, and Pilsen.

Globally, Uber reported a gross profit of $14.8 billion (roughly CZK 350 billion) in 2023, up from $12.2 billion (CZK 290 billion) the previous year. Its revenue for the year reached nearly $37.3 billion (CZK 885 billion), reflecting a nearly 17 percent increase from the previous year’s figures.

The company continues to expand its offerings in the Czech market, competing with other local and international ride-sharing services like Bolt and Liftago. With Uber for Teens, the company aims to address parents’ growing concerns about their children’s safety while traveling.