Silence is a Siren for Misconduct

Aug 26 , 2023
By Eden Sahle

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I had a habit of taking a walk not merely as a form of routine exercise but as a way to unwind from the hectic city life.

However, my husband insists on driving me around or ensuring I use ride-hailing services when he is not available. This has made me rely on these services so much that I spend more time in strangers' cars than walking to my destination.

For the past year, I have consistently tried all the available options. During that time, I have encountered drivers ranging from professional and courteous to rude, intoxicated, and hyper-critic of everyone.

I recently requested service from one company to visit a relative. The driver arrived smoking a cigarette and a chunk of Khat next to his seat. I waited outside until he was done.

As I got into the car, the pungent odour had me nauseated and I had to request to open the windows. The sight of his face was scary as his red eyes popped out. I inquired whether he was sober to drive. He told me his appearance was due to a long afternoon nap, confirming he was okay.

He was playing blasted loud music filled with graphic swear words, discriminatory language, and harsh insults. As soon as we set off, he drove recklessly violating several traffic rules. He was reluctant to address my concerns indicating that I should not comment as long as I reached my destination.

I began to worry about my safety and immediately shared my location with my husband, flagging that I might be in danger.

Meanwhile, the driver exceeded the speed limit and took a different route without explanation. He was texting and scrolling on social media before revealing that he needed to quickly grab an item from a friend, insinuating that my ride request had inconvenienced his lunch plans.

I thought he was joking but he was making a profound statement.

The last straw came when the item he was referring to turned out to be liquor and he started taking a sip while driving. I asked him to drop me off to which he only agreed after listening to the phone conversation with my husband.

The driver's several misconducts did not seem to register to him as wrong. He even thought I was overreacting to his actions. He demanded that I pay the entire fare, even though he only drove me for 10 minutes including the detour he decided to take.

I paid the estimated amount on the application with hopes of avoiding further engagements and went to a restaurant to wait for my husband.

Ordering online services can be unpredictable and even dangerous. This was by far the most extreme situation I have experienced. But I have heard similar cases from others where they were disrespected and abandoned by roadsides.

It is prevalent for individuals to experience boorish behaviour, post-trip contact, and aggression while using hailing services. Many suffer in silence as victims of these occurrences.

Needless to say, some professional drivers prioritise passenger safety, comfort, and respect. They converse politely, choose convenient drop-off locations, and never use phones or drive under the influence. They also apologise for mishaps, regardless of fault.

The uncouth incidents are a reflection of the deeply rooted problems in the transport service. Lack of proper training among service providers puts passengers at risk and echoes a disregard for professionalism. The dearth of accountability leads to no consequences for subpar service.

When silence of these problems becomes the norm, it creates an environment where wrongdoings go unnoticed and unaddressed. Misconduct thrives without the necessary checks and balances, causing harm to individuals and organisations alike. Breaking the silence is crucial to fostering a culture of accountability and integrity.

Transportation companies should enforce strong policies on all drivers, including proper screening to ensure passenger safety.

Implementing stricter regulations and oversight would ensure transport service providers are held to higher standards and create a safer and more reliable transportation system.

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PUBLISHED ON Aug 26,2023 [ VOL 24 , NO 1217]

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