We are gearing up for the start of summer, and that means plenty of midweek drinking and coffee-heavy mornings.

Hey, you have to break up the work week somehow.

Of course, if you’re drinking more and you’re responsible, you’re also making use of Uber more often. The company have now announced further improvements to their service, including insurance protection for riders whilst in an Uber vehicle.

The best bit is that it’s completely free of charge, as IOL reports:

“These insurance protections are provided to you at no cost because we believe that it is the right thing to do. We continue to look for ways to do more to ensure your safety on the road, and fulfill our goal of being a reliable, affordable, and safe transportation option,” said Uber in a statement.

So, what kind of insurance are we talking about here? In the event of injury or death while on an Uber trip, Chubb Insurance will now provide insurance to the value of R200 000 per person, which is a R50 000 increase on cover previously offered.

In terms of damage to any personal possessions, insurance cover of R2 500 is offered in the result of an accident.

This follows hot on the heels of last month’s announcement on the company’s dedication to looking after its drivers.

Here’s the full list of insurance coverage:

• Reimbursement for emergency medical expenses up to R50 000 and an immediate lump sum payment of R1 500
• Accidental Death Benefit of R200 000 and R15 000 to cover burial expenses will be reimbursed
• Permanent Disability of up to R200 000 (the amount depends on the severity of the disability)
• Daily Confinement Payment – a daily amount for each 24-hour period of Hospital confinement up to a maximum period of 30-days (first 24 hours confinement is not covered)
• Lost or damaged passenger goods up to R2 500

Riders are encouraged to contact Uber through the app, or through Uber’s Incident Response Call Backline (details here), in the event of an accident.

Now that you’re looked after, you can get down to the business of living the holiday. Here’s a fun drinking game – every time somebody says that they can’t believe it’s already spring, do a shot.

Good luck getting out alive.

[source:iol]