Yelp announced that it’s lending its API to the U.S. Department of Transporattion to use in its SaferRide app. The goal is to keep people from driving after they’ve had too much to drink.
“The app encourages potential drunk drivers to stay off of the road by helping them contact a close friend, find their location, and connect directly to a taxi company to secure a safe ride,” Yelp says in a blog post. “The taxicab information that the app uses will be generated by the Yelp API so users can have the best possible experience as they head home.”
“Yelp has previously been used to help pinpoint potential sources of foodborne illness and make restaurant health scores more accessible, and this new API use shows there are so many more ways we can bring value to communities,” it says. “We’re thrilled that the U.S. Department of Transportation trusts Yelp to help Americans get home safely this holiday season.”
In other safe transportation news, Uber has vowed to make its service safer, but that’s really a different issue altogether.
Earlier this week, Yelp released a new app for business owners aimed at helping them better manage their reputation and connect with customers.
Image via Yelp
