Hi OzBargainers,
I'm not sure if anyone else has experience a change in Uber Driver attitudes recently, i.e. post pandemic.
I've been a Uber user for many years before the pandemic, travelling almost every single week for business, all over different Australian cities. They range mostly from friendly to quiet-yet-respectful. If I have a preference, they will oblige readily (and never shown they are annoyed).
Today, on two separate trips I asked the driver to avoid the freeway. Just last week, I was in a rush and let the Uber auto navigation used the freeway, which somehow caused $20 more than usual (not only toll fees, but somehow maybe longer route to veer out to freeway and back in or something). Also Freeways is supposed to be fast but not always in Australian cities, and if you get stuck in a freeway jam, there is no way to turn out into the side streets to change route.
Anyway, both of today's drivers were not happy at all about the request:
First Driver
Me: can we please avoid the freeway.
Driver: Why? That will take much longer
Me: It doesn't matter if it takes longer
Driver: It matters to me, it will take extra 10 minutes of my time.
Second Driver:
Me: can we avoid the freeway please.
Driver: Freeway is much quicker.
(… some other words, back and forth)
Me: Don't worry I will direct you. Go straight here and turn right at the next lights.
Driver: My English is not very good. I don't understand this way (using his hand to point left) or that way (using his hand to point right). I can only follow this (pointing to Uber map on mobile.)
With the second driver - I won't mention his ethnic background because I don't want to make this into a race issue which it is not, and I am also non-anglo myself (but of course I or anyone can fall into racial bias subconsciously). He is from a country that is a part of the British Commonwealth of nations, and English is definitely in the school curriculum. So even if he just arrived yesterday in Australia (which is not), he should understand the language I would use to direct a driver are 3 words: straight, left, right.
Incidentally the radio music that was playing is of course an English pop music, and personalised stickers on dashboard was also in English (yes it's just circumstantial evidence).
It is downright insulting for a Uber driver to claim they cannot understand simple instructions like Straight/Left/Right - this is insulting because I don't think he is telling the truth and I assume Uber won't hire anyone who does not understand basic directions (straight, left, right) - please tell me I'm wrong. For many years, I have never had a driver (Uber / Taxi) telling me he cannot follow my instructions, even though some previous drivers language skills were poor, I still communicated slowly and clearly and there was no problem.
Sorry for elaborating so much on the second driver. The main point is that both 1st and 2nd drivers clearly not happy about my choice to avoid freeway. From their point of view, their 1st priority is speed. Finishing one job quickly, get another job - therefore more money. I totally understand their priorities and also sympathise with them as someone recently pointed out that the Gig-Economy is like modern slavery. Aside from the unpleasant experience, I don't hold anything against them. I have not given them a rating, although my initial thought was to give them a '1'.
My question is basically - has anyone noticed such behaviour in Uber drivers recently, that they prefer to take the fastest route possible. The other question is do you know if Uber itself is responsible by implementing any new policies that is really squeezing these drivers who are trying to make an extra buck?
Oh no. Underpaid drivers are trying to maximise fares.