Have you ever used Uber?
Certain rider behaviors make drivers “serious,” according to the Insider publication, which collected testimonials from five drivers who explained how some customers became a nightmare.
Uber indicated in its quarterly results, which were presented last February, that a record average of 23 million daily trips were made globally in the last three months of 2022.
And what are these actions?
Rude passengers
This can be a nightmare for Uber drivers. “The worst type of rider is someone who is rude and angry when they talk to me,” said Trevor Martin, an Uber driver in Orange County, California. “I might take one of those trips a week.” Martin has been an Uber driver for more than a year and has completed more than 1,000 trips – and he admits he doesn’t like driving sick or unwell passengers.
John Lacey, an Uber driver in Florida, said the worst kind of rider is someone who makes noise, slams the car door, and doesn’t respect the car. He has been a driver for 8 years and has revealed that he receives three or four of these passengers each week.
For David Hamilton, a driver from Jacksonville, Florida, who completed more than 3,600 trips in 10 months, it was confirmed that there was a rude or sloppy passenger in his car a week.
Uber indicated on its website that drivers can report accidents through the app’s 24/7 security support team.
Ask to stop at drive-in stores or convenience stores, among others
Another behavior that causes hair loss in drivers. “It’s a blow to my performance if someone stays at the gas station for 10 minutes before leaving. It’s weird when I say no,” said Michael Eddy, a California driver.
Riders can add stops to their trip through the Uber app before and during their trip. Uber stated that up to 2 additional stops can be added along the way, but if one of them lasts more than 3 minutes, the customer will be charged more.
When there’s a lot of demand, Eddie admitted that he avoids choosing trips with stops at cars, gas stations or convenience stores because they don’t pay enough for overtime. “One passenger offered me $30 cash for 10 minutes,” he recalls. “It was worth my time and respect.”
No tip
Another point of contention is the tips. Riders have the option to give an extra tip to the driver after the ride — and Uber says the tip goes directly to the drivers. A 2019 study by a University of Chicago economist who analyzed data from more than 40 million trips found that Uber customers only took 16% of trips, with only 1% doing so on a repeat basis. Uber introduced tipping in July 2017.
“I wish people would get more information if they were on a short trip,” said Pasquale, an Uber driver for a year in Melbourne, Australia. For example, on an $8 trip, a $3 tip “would make my day if everyone else did.” “Almost no one gives advice,” explained Lacey, who has a 4.91-star rating.
arrived late
Passengers have two minutes to get into the car before the fare is charged or the trip is cancelled. Unlike traditional taxis, Uber drivers have to wait up to two minutes before they can start collecting payment for the trip. After waiting 5 minutes, the driver can choose to cancel the ride and the passenger will be charged a cancellation fee.
forbidden areas
There are passengers who want to be picked up in areas that drivers cannot enter or even stop in the area. In its guidelines, Uber has stressed that drivers should be aware that they are limited to the places they can park while waiting for passengers.
An Uber spokesperson told Insider, “We want every ride to be a respectful and positive experience for travelers and drivers alike, which is why we ask that everyone who uses our app adhere to our Community Guidelines.” Drivers can raise any issue with us and any user of the app who violates these guidelines may lose access to the platform.
Travelers can check their ratings in detail to see how many are good and how many are less.
