Uber Driver’s Constant Phone Calls Gave Bengaluru Woman A 'Headache'. Company Apologises

A Bengaluru-based pastry chef, Joonie Tan recently shared her unpleasant Uber experience and discomfort as the driver was on a call throughout the journey. Due to the driver’s constant chatter, Tan suffered a headache. The woman lodged a complaint against the driver for using his phone excessively while driving. She brought this issue to public attention through her Instagram Stories, which have since been deleted.

In her posts, she questioned both her followers and Uber about any existing rules prohibiting drivers from constantly using their phones. She also filed a formal complaint with Uber and hoped that the company would take appropriate action upon receiving multiple reports of similar incidents.

“Uber driver keep talking on the phone, I’m having headache from him talking non stop now. Can we actually ask them not to talk on phone while driving a customer? Can we? Is there a rule like that? What’s appropriate to do?” she wrote

According to Joonie Tan’s followers, it’s a common issue in Bengaluru and at the same time, she even received numerous solutions. Some suggested politely asking the driver to stop talking, although they might not listen or might agree. Others recommend reporting the issue through the app or customer services. Some also suggested wearing noise-cancelling headphones to block the noise.

Soon after her complaint went viral on the internet, Uber sent her an apology mail and wrote, “We’re sorry to hear that driving on this trip made you feel unsafe. Uber driver- partners are expected to maintain a high standard of professional service on all trips. This includes providing a safe and comfortable ride for passengers. Reports of dangerous driving are taken very seriously. As a result of your feedback, we will be reviewing the driver-partner’s account accordingly. Regardless of any action, we may take on the driver-partner’s account, we’ve also taken steps to prevent your account from being paired with this driver-partner for future trip requests made through the Uber app.”

Have you ever experienced something similar?