We’ve added a safety update to our in-app emergency button and assigned up to three (3) contacts to notify in the unlikely event of an emergency.
How to set up your contacts
How to send an alert to your contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens when I add an emergency contact?
A: When you add an emergency contact, he/she will receive an SMS from Grab indicating that he/she has been assigned as your emergency contact. In the unlikely event of an emergency, you will be able to send an SMS alert to them.
Q: If I trigger an SMS alert, which of my emergency contacts will receive the SMS?
A: All of your emergency contacts will receive the SMS alert simultaneously. Please ensure that all of your saved emergency contacts are able to receive SMSes.
Q: What happens if I do not assign any emergency contacts?
A: You will still be able to use the Grab app even without assigning any emergency contacts. In the unlikely event of an emergency, you may still use the Emergency button to call the Police. However, you will not be able to trigger any SMS alerts.
Q: Will the SMS alerts be sent from my mobile number?
A: No, all SMSes received by your emergency contacts will be sent by Grab on your behalf.
Q: What happens if I press the ‘Emergency’ button and trigger an SMS alert to my emergency contacts during a ride?
A: All of your saved emergency contacts will receive an SMS from Grab indicating that you’ve triggered the Emergency button during a Grab ride. The SMS will contain a hyperlink to your ride details and current location.
Q: What happens if I press the ‘Emergency’ button (i.e. via side menu) and trigger an SMS alert to my emergency contacts outside of a ride?
A: All of your saved emergency contacts will still receive an SMS from Grab indicating that you’ve triggered the Emergency button in your Grab app. However, as you’re not in a ride, the SMS will not contain any ride details, nor your current location.
Q: In which language will the SMS alert be sent?
A: The SMS alert will follow your phone’s language setting and is compatible with English, Bahasa Melayu, and Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese.
Q: What is the ‘Auto-alert’ feature?
A: The Auto-alert feature allows your emergency contacts to receive an automatic SMS alert from Grab if an unusual ride pattern is detected. However, please note that this feature is currently in beta.
Q: How does Grab detect an ‘unusual ride pattern’?
A: This is based on your previous ride behaviour, as well as the time and destination of your current ride (e.g. late night ride to a remote location). If Grab detects a ride with a potentially unusual pattern, an Auto-alert SMS will be triggered. Do note that these may or may not be emergencies.
Q: Can I enable or disable Auto-alert for a particular emergency contact at a later time?
A: Yes. Tap on ‘Emergency’ in the side menu app, and then on ‘Manage Emergency Contacts’. In here, you may enable or disable Auto-alert for any particular emergency contact.
