For the last few weeks, I've been asking Ola drivers to tell me what makes their lives difficult. What do customers do that, without our knowledge, annoys them, pisses them off, and puts them at the terrifying and real risk of losing their jobs?
Here's what I found makes you a shit human in the back of a cab.
1. Not answering the phone when they're on their way, or have shown up.
2. Getting angry when they call asking for directions to your pick-up point, and yelling to "just use the map!"
An Ola driver told me that a remarkable number of people don't even realise that their pin on the map is in a WILDLY inaccurate spot. This means that, at least a couple of times a week, he ends up on the wrong side of town because a customer was too impatient to give him directions on the phone.
3. Saying "I'll be down in 5 minutes", then taking an unapologetic 45.
4. Or cancelling after making them wait.
5. Smoking! Even when the driver himself doesn't have a problem, the customer after you might.
6. Along the same lines – perfuming in the car (or doing anything that leaves a lasting smell) may annoy whoever gets in next.
7. Making them wait an unreasonable amount of time once your trip is underway.
8. Trashing the back seat, or eating in the cab and not cleaning up after.
9. Telling them to please let six of you sit in a four-seater.
10. Asking them to speed or skip red lights.
11. Making them switch radio stations to one you like better. (Especially one with English-speaking RJs and songs.)
12. BUT – don't be so deep in your headphones-and-phone tunnel vision that you have no clue they're trying to talk to you.
13. Being drunk and belligerent.
14. Gettin' it on.
15. Generally being an aggressive, rude douchebucket.
