In today’s fast-paced world, ride-hailing apps have become an integral part of our daily lives, offering convenience and ease of transportation. However, not all experiences are smooth sailing.
The Introductory Ride
It all began when a woman in Singapore decided to book a ride through the carpool and ride-hailing app Ryde.
The woman initiated her journey from Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ) mall, a location known for its multiple pick-up and drop-off points.
In an attempt to prevent any potential confusion, she informed the driver that she was waiting at “PLQ 3 residences drop off.” Little did she know that this simple instruction would be met with an unexpected response.
In response to her message, the driver’s reply was far from conventional. He stated, “Please follow the GPS as I am driving so can’t text you, otherwise, I will be sent to jail if I am caught text-driving.”
While she found this response somewhat unusual, she decided to go along with it, assuming it had a reasonable explanation.
A Turn in the Wrong Direction
Approximately 10 minutes into the ride, the woman began to notice something odd. Ryde’s location tracker revealed that the driver was heading in the opposite direction from where she had been waiting for the driver.
Concerned about this development, she messaged the driver to alert him of the mistake. However, the response she received was bewildering.
The driver insisted that he had arrived at the designated pick-up point, as indicated by the GPS. Despite her attempts to clarify the situation by sharing a screenshot of the map within the app along with his current location, he continued to argue that the GPS was accurate.
The woman told the driver that he was not at the pickup location, and the driver then told her “But the GPS said that I have arrived so should listen to you or the GPS?????!!?”
A Disconcerting Attitude
To add to the growing confusion, the driver suggested that he was doing her a favor by providing the ride since she had booked a RydePool, which he perceived as a hitch.
He also accused the woman of treating him like her “family’s personal driver” and said that he is doing her a “favour” by giving her a lift.
A Deteriorating Situation
As the journey continued, the situation took a turn for the worse, leaving the passenger both shocked and distressed.
The driver’s behavior escalated as he began to borderline shout at the woman, insisting that she fasten her seatbelt.
He explained that failing to do so could result in his being jailed or fined. His tone and demeanor left the woman feeling uneasy and perplexed.
Unpleasant Interactions
Things went from bad to worse when a second passenger joined the RydePool. When the woman attempted to suggest that the driver communicate more politely, his reaction was far from expected. In fact, he appeared to become irate, which only added to the distress of the passengers.
In the woman’s own words, the driver’s behavior reached a shocking climax. She described him as appearing ready to resort to violence when she implied that he was being rude, saying that he “looked like he was about to throw me a punch”.
Feeling threatened, the woman stated that the driver abruptly stopped the car and asked her to exit. He made it clear that he no longer wanted her as a passenger and even said that he would cancel her booking altogether, as he kicked her out.
@oh.bellyflebby next driver that picked me up was shocked cos he told me it’s lawfully illegal for drivers to chase their passengers out of the car after they accepted the ride
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