COVID-19 | Drive Safe, Drive Kind (Driver-Partners)

At DiDi we are committed to safeguarding you and the wider driver-partner and rider community during this period of uncertainty. Find below the steps we are taking to support your wellbeing and financial security.

Ride with DiDi

COVID-19 | Drive Safe, Drive Kind (Driver-Partners)

Our Plan to Support Driver-Partners

DiDi Reduces Services-fees To 5%

All Driver-Partners keep 95% of fares starting Monday 23 March* With many Australian’s practicing social distancing, you may experience fewer people travelling. In order support your earning potential, DiDi is reducing the services-fees we charge to 5% for all driver-partners across Australia for a 4 week period starting Monday 23 March.

For Driver-Partners in VIC, QLD & NSW

This temporarily replaces the DiDi Advance Program which will be paused and reinstated at a later date. You therefore you do not need to achieve any trip targets or goals to maintain this 5% services fee until a later date.

For Driver-Partners in WA

This temporarily replaces the 11% Services Fee which will be paused and reinstated at a later date.

*This excludes booking fare, levy and other third party charges and will apply until 18 May 2020.

$10M USD Driver-Partner Relief Fund

We have created a $10M USD fund to support any driver-partners who are affected by COVID-19. In Australia, this will be available to driver-partners who either test positive or undergo compulsory self-isolation. To receive compensation you need to provide evidence of the diagnosis or direction to self-isolate from a public health authority, and you need to have completed minimum of one trip on or after 1 March 2020.Driver-partners affected by COVID-19 will receive financial support

Ride Safe & Ride Kind

To minimise any potential spread of the virus we are asking riders to practice safe and kind rideshare behaviour during trips based on advice from the Australian Department of Health.

This includes:

Not requesting rides if they feel unwell
Practicing good hygiene when taking essential trips
Sitting in the backseats to increase social distancing

Preventative Suspension Measures

We are preventatively suspending accounts of both riders and driver-partners who have shown symptoms of COVID-19. This includes those that have been asked to self-isolate by a Public Health Authority or those that have self-reported or been reported by a Public Health Authority as testing positive.

Drive Safe, Drive Kind

Based on the Australian Government Department of Health advice all drivers are to practice the following specific requirements before and during a rideshare trip to minimise the potential spread of the virus –

Practicing good personal hygiene;

Clean hands thoroughly and often using an alcohol-based hand rub or with soap and water;
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser;
Stay at home if you are unwell.
In the event of a rider spreading droplets (such as sneezing, coughing or vomiting), clean surfaces with disinfectant wipes so that the potential spread of infection can be minimised;
Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces in your vehicle which you and your riders touch by wiping down with a disinfectant or wet wipes as part of good hygiene practice (Source
CPV Victoria).
When refuelling your vehicle where possible use a paper towel to limit contact with the petrol pump and always clean your hands thoroughly afterwards.

In addition to practicing good personal hygiene when picking up/dropping off from the specific locations below you are advised to minimise the potential spread of infection by:

Airport trips

In addition to practicing good personal hygiene when picking up/dropping off from the airport:

Any DiDi rideshare users with a suspected case of COVID-19, or has travelled through an at-risk country has been advised to wear a surgical mask to prevent spreading the virus.
Upon arriving at the destination, you are not required to take any further measures.
When assisting with luggage, ensure to practice extra caution by sanitising your hands as you would with any surfaces touched by others.

Please note that:

Individuals arriving from all overseas countries are screened at the airport by health professionals. Anyone who is exhibiting symptoms is referred for testing. Only individuals who are well are permitted to continue their journey home.

Riders are advised to follow precautions when in the vehicle such as wearing a surgical mask and practice good hygiene.

Keeping your vehicle clean

To minimise the potential spread of the virus you should:

Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces in your vehicle which you and your riders touch;
Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands;
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or hand sanitiser;
Keep a box of tissues in your car to use tissues and dispose of straight away and then wash your hands;

Also keep in mind…

Discrimination is still not tolerated

It is against the law and against DiDi’s values to discriminate against any rider or driver. You will lose access to your account if you are found to have discriminated against a rider or driver because of their race, religion, sex, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation to name a few. At a time like this we ask that we all help and respect each other.

How to report COVID-19

To ensure the safety of the DiDi Community it is strongly advised that you report to us immediately at help.driver@au.didiglobal.com if you are showing symptoms, have been asked to self-isolate or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, this allows us to communicate to those you have been in close contact with.

Safe hygiene practices and a list of disinfection principals for COVID-19 can be found at health.gov.au

Driver Partners who think they may have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 should monitor their health, seek medical attention, and inform DiDi.

Driver FAQs

Are Australians still using rideshare?

Current advice from the Australian Government Health Department is to only travel when essential.

Essential activities include:

essential workplaces, where you cannot work from home
health care settings
pharmacies
food shopping
schools and universities, where you cannot study from home
public transport and airports

Should I wear personal protective equipment (PPE) e.g. masks?

Current advice from the Chief Medical Officer is that, if you are healthy you do not need to wear a mask.

How do drivers contact DiDi to report their diagnosis, or self-isolation?

Driver-partners may request assistance and support through our 24/7 customer service channels. These details are available through the DiDi-Driver app.

What does DiDi do if a driver/passenger is diagnosed with COVID-19, or if a case is suspected?

DiDi takes the privacy of its Driver-partners and riders seriously, but will disclose contact or trip information where required by law or necessary for the protection of public safety. For example DiDi may share necessary Driver-partner or rider information with federal or state government authorities, or state health authorities. This information may include contact details, and trip origin and destination details, where required by authorities to establish contact with drivers and riders, or where required for contact tracing.

Will DiDi suspend rider and/or driver accounts of suspect COVID-19 cases?

Where a case of COVID-19 is confirmed, or a compulsory self-isolation notice has been issued by public health authority, the corresponding rider and/or driver account will be temporarily suspended. Drivers may be eligible for compensation.

DiDi will remain in contact with the rider and/or driver, and the account will be reactivated, upon advice from health authorities that the rider or driver has fully recovered, or the isolation period has concluded with no COVID-19 symptoms detected.

Should a driver and/or rider suspect they are sharing a vehicle with an individual displaying symptoms of COVID-19, they are encouraged to make a report via the app for investigation. Accounts may temporarily be suspended whilst an investigation is occurring.

What is DiDi doing to prevent further spread or contamination in DiDi vehicles?

DiDi is requesting both riders and drivers to employ protection measures as recommended by the Australian Department of Health, including (but not limited to) the regular washing of hands, avoiding touching your face, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your elbow. We encourage drivers and riders to visit the Australian Government’s Department of Health website (https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/) for official updates and protection measures.

DiDi is also requesting riders sit in the back seats of vehicles, and that drivers maintain a high cleanliness standard in vehicles. DiDi is looking to support drivers with access to sanitisation products.