These drivers have dealt with a variety of people, but there's always that one passenger that just gets on their last nerve!
They Got Their Taco Bell!
“On Friday, I picked up four college-aged guys from a bar at 1:15 a.m. who were on their way home and teetering on a blackout. It was a surge fare of 1.8x and a ride of about eight miles of mostly highway, so I was pretty pumped to make an easy $20 in 15 minutes.
We finished the bulk of the ride when the most tipsy of the group springs to life and says: ‘Dude, you do want Taco Bell?’ I think he mixed a request with a statement that he wanted Taco Bell. I said sure as I wasn’t going to be staying out much later and thought it was sure to yield a tip in cash. So I take them to a little plaza that contains a gas station, a convenience store, and of course Taco Bell.
This is when that same guy sprung to life once again to say. ‘No drive-thru, let’s go in.’ I told him ‘no,’ but he said he’d give me 10 dollars if I waited, so I reconsidered. They step out of the car and this guy huddles his friends for a few seconds before they break off into three different directions as the drunkest guy half slumps and leans against my back bumper; one rushes the Taco Bell and returns with four $5 boxes, another hits the gas station and comes back with smokes. When the final man returns, it’s with a roll of paper towels, some sort of rivet things, and sticky tack. The blacked out guy then unravels the entire roll and shoves it into one of the barf bags that I keep in my back seat and they get into the car for the last mile of the drive home.
Blacked out guy, is fiddling with it in the back as I talk with the guys about sports and other banalities until I pull up to the house they live in about two minutes later. As I pull in, the blacked out guy says. ‘Done!’ And then slumped onto his buddy’s shoulder. He hands me $10 and grabs the bag containing the paper. He looked me right in the eye and with an incredibly serious tone he broke through his out of state mind, for one sentence, and said: ‘You must always remember to recycle,’ and then passed out to the point that his friends had to carry him
I then got to see what this blacked out genius was up to, a device for smoking multiple devices that was so precisely made (holes were equidistant, lines were clean, etc). They invited me in to test it, but I had to be on my way.
As I drove off I wondered what this person would be like in the light of day. What does a sober version of this engineer do, what else is he capable of?”
He Was The Getaway Car!
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“I started driving for Uber about a year ago, and nothing too crazy happened. Except for one time.
I picked up two guys on a Saturday evening, and they said that they were headed to a bar to hang out. I didn’t think much of it until they got into the car. Something smelled horrible. I couldn’t pinpoint what the smell was though. It almost smelled like spoiled meat or fish.
We didn’t talk much through the ride, other the usual get-to-know-you conversation. They were pretty short with their answers, so I just let it go and kept the silence.
It got to the point where the smell coming from them was so unbearable that I had to crack a few windows just to air out. As we were nearing their destination, one of the guys said: ‘You can just drop us off here.’ It was a few blocks from their destination.
They opened the doors and as they were stepping out of the car, they ran. I was confused. Within a few seconds, I couldn’t see them anymore. I looked at the back seats to my car only to find bloodstains on the seat. I thought it looked really suspicious, so I called the police. They looked at my car and asked me more details. The police told me that there was a woman who was killed earlier today, and the suspects were two middle-aged men. I described them and they matched the descriptions.
The police called for backup and started searching the whole area, and it turns out that the guys were caught a few hours later.”
At Least He Got A Five-Star Review
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“I picked up a couple in their 30s on St. Patrick’s Day this year. They wanted to take about a 35-mile drive at 6.3x surge, so I was about to give the third highest paying fare I’d ever given; a great way to end the night!
They had clearly been drinking like they were in their 20s since early in the day. The wife was apologetic for the first five minutes or so; embarrassed about their level of intoxication, while the husband was trying to be my new best friend. After five minutes or so though, the Sandman paid them a visit, and they both passed out. I drove for the next 20 minutes in relative peace.
When we arrived in their driveway, the husband was sound asleep, and they had a half inch of wet snow in their driveway, so I took the wife inside first. While on the way in, she upended her purse in the snow, but I was more focused on getting her safely inside. Once we got in, I helped her to the bathroom, and then went to the garage to get a snow shovel. I cleared a four-foot wide path from the garage to the car, so I could get the husband inside and finally got him awake. I gave him my shoulder and got him inside. He begged me: ‘Please, just get me to the recliner, I can’t make it to bed,’ so that’s where we headed. All the while the wife is throwing up with the force of a small waterfall in the bathroom.
I ran outside and grabbed the contents of her purse, which included her phone, and came back inside. She begged me to rice her phone, so I started to dig through her cupboards for a bag and rice. While digging, I came across their meds and pulled some Advil for them. I riced her phone then gave them both Advil and water and told them to take more in the morning; they were going to need it. Then I locked the door and showed myself out. In the end, I was dropping them off for well over half an hour, but the fare was awesome and the day was my second best day of driving, so it didn’t really bug me.
The kicker? They left me a 5-star review the next day: ‘Pretty OK guy.’
Best ride ever.”
Driver Or Therapist?
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“I work for a company similar to Uber. Oftentimes, you have to play therapist for customers that have had a few drinks in them. They will lay out personal details about their lives to you.
One customer told me about how her ex-husband had been hospitalized several times due to complications from addictions, and that they told him that the next time he came in, he’d likely die. She told me that she really hoped that the father would die before her 17-year-old son turned 18 because she didn’t want him to have the responsibility of having to decide to pull the plug.
Another ride started with the customer asking if I played Overwatch, and within five minutes she was crying and telling me about her friend who committed suicide.
One ride I couldn’t find the window button (we drive the customers home in their own cars), so the customer reached over for it, clearly moving her hand across my groin on the way. She also refused to sign her check unless she could write her number on my arm, and slapped my butt, as I walked away.
Another customer asked me for change, and I handed it to him as his other hand was preoccupied as he peed in his front yard.
Another customer, whose car interior was covered in remnants of smokes, told me about how her daughter recently got hooked on illegal substances, by her boyfriend, and how she hates certain types of men because her father left her as a child when he went to prison.
I could go on.”
He Had A Right To Be Upset
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“One time, I picked up a guy who seemed to be in a horrible mood, and he kept urging me to drive faster, telling me he doesn’t care if I speed or pass people. He was clutching a small bag to his chest and staring ahead angrily. It was almost an hour drive to the middle of nowhere, but thankfully he had a phone call right after he got in the car to distract him as I flew down the highway. Naturally, I listened to his conversation, and it was something about his ex-wife, his car had been repossessed and it seemed he was talking to a lawyer or something. After a while, he hangs up the phone and looks out the window in a huff, and then explains to me that his ex-wife had gotten his truck repossessed because he was apparently one day late on a payment, and his car had his money and PTSD meds. I tried to reassure him as much as possible and tone down the conversation, but he was, understandably, angry. He then started ranting about the repo guys, who were just outside county lines (hence the long drive), and how he wanted to shoot up the place. Understanding now why he was clutching his bag, this made me nervous, and thankfully I was able to lighten the mood a bit and hopefully convince him not to go on a shooting spree. He then rants about his ex-wife and kids and says he wants to put a kill her and her lawyer. I remember saying something like this will only make your problems worse, and he says it doesn’t matter since he’s off his PTSD meds, so he was already insane. We’re like 15 minutes from his destination by now, and I have no idea what to do besides try to identify with this guy while talking him down and being nice/understanding. I end the ride and offer to go in with him to the repo place if he needs a hand getting his truck and he agrees. So we get his truck and the people had stolen all of his cash but not his meds, thankfully, and he was holding back tears. This was a surreal experience.
Also, bachelorette parties can be annoying since women in that state think it’s ok to grope me, which is great and all, I guess, but I’m trying not to die in a fiery car crash. Also, one group stole my hat, which is unforgivable since that particular one no longer exists.”
Why He Stopped Working For Uber
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“This story is why I stopped working for Uber.
It’s about 10:30 p.m. I get a request and accept it. It’s a 20-year-old girl just getting off work at a clothing store. She needs a ride home, about 35 minutes outside the city limits. Cool, a long ride means more money. I get to her house, she gets out, and I drive away. Now, I’m about 25 miles away from the city, so I don’t really expect to get any hits out there. I’m about to head back in when I get another request. This one is another 30 minutes further outside the city limits. Maybe this person wants to go downtown. That’s an hour ride which means more money. I’m down. I start heading their way. It’s a beautiful night, so I cruise the whole way with my windows down.
Long, winding, narrow roads. No street lights for miles. Finally, I come across the property. It’s a ranch-style place. I turn in. Still no lights. Pitch black. I drive in for about two miles with no signs of a house. I’m doubting my GPS at this point. Oh well, I’m already this far. Keep going.
Oh cool, a house! No lights on. Something doesn’t seem right. I swing my car around to face the exit, leave my car in drive and rest my foot on the brake, just in case and waited for a while. Nothing. Let me give the guy a call.
He answers. Sounds confused.
‘Hey, I’m your Uber driver, I’m outside. Take your time, I’m here whenever you’re ready.’
‘Uber? I didn’t request a ride.’
‘Your address and information come up on my app.’
‘Texas? I’m in Indiana. I’ve never been to Texas. Please don’t charge me.’ Hangs up.
In that moment, I felt the already pitch black night get darker. I turn down the radio. My window was still open and so I started listening.
You know that sound of a dirt road when somebody is walking on it? How it crunches and you can hear every step? Imagine that sound, but there are two sets of feet. And they’re running. Getting louder. I look out my rear view mirror and the only light is from the red parking lights of my car.
Two men. All black clothes painted red by my brake lights. Sprinting. Getting closer. Getting louder.
I slammed on the gas, my car threw pebbles and rocks at them as I semi-burned out, and I hauled as fast as I could out of that property. I got back on that winding road, followed it all the way to a well-lit gas station, shifted to park, and sat there, stunned. What just happened?
I tried following up with Uber. Nothing really came of it. To this day, I’ll always have to wonder what happened that night.”
Not A Normal Phone Call To Have Before Church…
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“A few months ago, this lady came into my car whilst busily talking on her phone: ‘Yeah, you can’t tell anyone on the team yet. No no, I haven’t told anyone at all.’
I was secretly eavesdropping, as I usually do, trying to figure out what kind of job she had.
‘The details are gruesome. The poor thing was lying there for a while after it happened because there was no one around. These jerks took everything from her and tried to steal her car, but they apparently ran her over, and they just booked it. Her body was split in two under one of the wheels. It was only a couple hours later someone saw it and called us. She was still alive when we got there. Hey, listen I have to go. We’ll talk more soon.’
We reached her destination: Church. She got out of the car with a quick thank you.”
Driving Around The Cheating Guy
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“I don’t drive for Uber or Lyft, but I had a pretty bizarre fare once. I picked up a guy and a girl midday Saturday for a short ride. The girl seemed out of or her mind and was wearing somewhat revealing clothing, so it was pretty clear they’d been partying the night before.
While driving, I picked up their conversation which they were not even attempting to hide. It was pretty clear that the guy had a girlfriend who was not the girl in the car and that he had just hooked up with this girl. They were heading to his girlfriend’s place to explain what had happened. To be clear, he is bringing the girl he was unfaithful with along to explain to his girlfriend that he just slept with her. He tipped well though.”
Making The Driver Uncomfortable?
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“This recently just happened to me!
I drive for Uber. You can make a lot of money here living next to a college campus. For the first time, I had an old lady request an Uber. She got in the back and we did the usual greetings you do. We get to her destination in about 10 minutes after having a conversation about life as an Uber driver. Then, she tells me, she’d like to change her destination, and it was about 20 minutes from there. Alright, that’s fine.
Until I found out why. I look in my rearview mirror and she started pulling up her top. That’s why she changed her destination, she wanted to seduce me.
I pretended not to see, I was in shock. What is happening? She then asks me to check my rear view mirror. So, yeah I freaked out a bit and I told her please pull her top up, my windows aren’t even tinted. I would hate for someone to see that.
She did and then started talking about how she needs to be ‘fulfilled’ and how long it’s been. I asked her if her second destination was actually where she wanted to go, she said no, the first place was. Alright, fine, not too far from there. So I drove her back. After she got out, while she was walking into her old lady place, I did feel bad thinking about how she didn’t have any kids to pick her up or drive her places, or any friends. She must have been quite lonely.”
That Is Not In Uber’s Code Of Conduct!
“This happened to my cousin a few weeks ago. She was getting a ride home from a friend’s house somewhat late at night and made the mistake of getting in the front seat of an Uber. Her driver was a middle-aged guy who would not stop giving her weird compliments and telling her how her boyfriend was so lucky. He even tried touching her leg and hair, and it was weird.
So my cousin gets home and contacts Uber about this driver, and they apologize and give her a free ride. But a few days later, someone comes to their front door and won’t stop knocking and saying: ‘I’m looking for my friend.’ My aunt is the only one home and yells from an upstairs window for them to leave or she’s calling the police. They leave after she threatens the police, and later that night when she’s telling my cousin about her day, she pieces together by the description of the guy that it was her creepy Uber driver.
She opens up the app and found the guy’s picture from her previous rides and sure enough, my aunt confirms that it’s the same dude. They contacted Uber but have not heard back yet, they are also considering a restraining order.”
He Had To Cancel On His Rider?
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“I was in Santa Ana, California, looking for a guy I was supposed to pick up. He lived in a large cul-de-sac with a small park in the center. It was late in the evening when I went to pick him up. I go through the cul-de-sac once, pretty slowly, as I can’t find his house.
I decided to do a second round of the cul-de-sac, and when I get a quarter of the way through, two guys emerge from the park and one of them pulls out a weapon and asked: ‘What are you doing in my neighborhood?’ I decide to act calm and just let him know that I’m with Uber and was unable to find a passenger and who I was looking for. He says: ‘Oh, you looking for ‘Random Name’ he’s at the top of the cul-de-sac blue house.’ I thanked him for his help and canceled on my rider.
Screw that!”
She Needed Out Of That Toxic Relationship!
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“I picked up a couple from the Grizzly Rose (filthy country bar in Denver). The guy asked to pee, so I stopped as he peed while leaning against the car.
The guy seems to go from being quiet to angry in his verbiage and demeanor through the drive, even to the point of grabbing my seat while his partner tries to calm him (at a stop light). I hear him threaten to kill his partner.
The threats towards his partner intensify on the highway. I pull into a hard shoulder and gradually depress the brake pedal so as to avoid any wheel-lock. I exit the vehicle, the guy follows me out and tries to fight me on side of the highway. I sprint back to the car as he falls flat on his face.
I drive the woman home and leave the guy on the side of the highway. I try figuring out why she’s with him. I found out that she was afraid her son would judge her if she left, despite her being the income source for the family. It was the classic physical/psychologically abusive stronghold.
I called the police immediately and reported everything including address.”
Other Women Hitting On Her Dad?
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“So my dad is an Uber driver, and he says that girls my age (I’m in my early 20s) will try to make him go home with them all the time.
One time there were three girls completely out of it, were singing to Taylor Swift and they made my dad record them singing the song and then they made him sing some of the lyrics. He showed me the clip of them singing and him singing later it was hysterical. Then they invited him to go to the next bar with them, but he had to keep working.
Also one time an Uber driver told me a girl tried to make him hook up with her at her house, but he said no because he’s married. And when she got out of the car she gave him the middle finger and turned around and lifted up her miniskirt and flashed him. I guess Uber drivers get a lot of ladies.”