TAXI UNCLE FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING ON PIE, PASSENGER THOUGHT HE GONNA DIE FOR A SECOND

Anyone experienced Taxi Uncle falling asleep while driving?

I encountered one. Took Taxi early around 4 in the morning to go to airport. Uncle is old like 70 something. He dosed off while driving on PIE and car swerved to left.

I was sitting behind and luckily wide awake to notice and shouted him.

Not too many cars on the road that time. These days I am paranoid whenever my taxi is on highway.

Netizens’ comments

1. I’ve encountered some too, in Singapore and overseas. They been on the road for too many hours trying to earn more money, i feel for them though.
   If you’re a passenger in such a situation, don’t panic, just try to keep them awake by talking to them and engaging them.
2. Same situation as you, twice. Both times coming back home from airport, about 12am, so actually not that late. Old uncles too.
   First encounter, Uncle clearly dozing off and kept swerving off-lane. Told him nicely that may need him to be a bit more careful, but still like that. I then told Uncle to drop me off at ECP Mcdonalds, cos I was scared for my life.
   Second encounter, same situation but could tell Uncle put in a lot of effort to stay awake plus drive carefully after my pleading. So we made it back home safely and I tipped him too, for his efforts.
3. Happened several times when I was out late and in a cab. Most times it’s happened in a cab instead of Grab. I try to keep talking to them to keep them awake and I’ve even offered for them to stop and we have a coffee together. They’re only human. Our bodies aren’t meant to be working long hours and forcing ourselves to stay awake through the night so while it’s a question of safety, we also need to be empathetic and understanding rather than telling them off.
4. Can email CDG to provide feedback. While you can be sympathetic towards older taxi drivers, falling asleep at the wheel is very serious. Someone could have died. For deterrence purposes, there needs to be some consequences. A life is more precious than a job (tho frankly i doubt they would lose their job just because of a complaint).