What's The Deal with Uber Drivers Following Stupid Map Routes?

altomic on 29/05/2025 - 22:23

last night I was catching an uber from the station to my friends house.
I could see the uber car i had booked was 400 metres directly down the straight street from me- there was a regular set of traffic lights/crossroad in between. i then watched on the map the uber proceed towards me, then turn right at the lights and then drive a stupid route that took it 2.5 kms away, drive around a block and then travel back the same way to pick me up. that route was half way to my destination.

the usual 6 minute ride took 28 minutes(from driver confirmation to destination at arrival)

how did the driver not see and think "my next booking is 400 metres straight ahead at the big station which i can see , I'll just travel there rather than going this stupid suggestion" (kallangur station - it's elevated)

What's The Deal with Uber Drivers Following Stupid Map Routes?

i had ordered an uberX (not uber pool)

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Comments

  • jv on 29/05/2025 - 22:26
    -3

    Following Stupid Map Routes

    How do you know they were following a map route?

    Maybe they were on drugs?

  • askbargain on 29/05/2025 - 22:36
    +2

    new uber driver. be nice

    • altomic on 30/05/2025 - 11:01

      12000 trips on their profile

  • fantoo on 29/05/2025 - 22:40
    +17

    Maybe They were dropping off someone else.

    Maybe

  • Hybroid on 29/05/2025 - 22:42
    +12

    Most likely they were on another job when they accepted yours. Whether Uber or another app.

    • AustriaBargain on 30/05/2025 - 07:53
      +3

      Yes, another app, which is why the Uber app gave the incorrect estimate and route to OP.

    • altomic on 30/05/2025 - 13:42
      -2

      The uber app showed the route to be taken by the driver from the moment they accepted the job.

      Can Uber drivers accept another Uber job whilst on a current job?

      • Hybroid on 30/05/2025 - 13:46

        Yes it's common for them to accept new jobs near the end of an existing one to minimise downtime.

      • PissLUR on 30/05/2025 - 19:31

        They can be on other app Didi.

        • altomic on 31/05/2025 - 19:08

          Why would the uber app show that their path to the waiting client goes that stupid detour?

          • Jake17 on 31/05/2025 - 21:35
            -1

            @altomic: Because as said. They could've been using didi also. Uber wouldnt know that. So what do you expect uber to do?

            • altomic on 31/05/2025 - 23:03
              -1

              @Jake17: you don't seem to be following - when the uber app confirmed the pickup it showed the route that the driver was taking to pick me up. that included turning right at the lights and driving 3 kms away , rather than directly driving the <500 metres from where they were when they confirmed they could pick me up.

              so if the driver was using the didi app , and was dropping off a didi ride, then how did the uber app know that they had to turn right at the lights and drive 3 kms away? (the route which the uber app on my phone was showing).

              • PissLUR on 01/06/2025 - 09:09

                @altomic: oh then that uber driver was still on another Uber job. yes they can accept another job before finishing the current one.

  • Protractor on 29/05/2025 - 22:43
    +2

    LOL. Complaining about the quality of gig industry.I'm in stitches. We reap what we sow.

  • MS Paint on 29/05/2025 - 23:03
    +3

    turn right at the lights

    Perhaps they were previously a UPS driver in the USA.

    Just like in this demonstration video

    • geekcohen on 30/05/2025 - 08:18

      I saw this on like a doco show and it was actually very interesting to see the smarts and reasons behind it. Time, Fuel, Effeciency, I found it pretty interesting.

      • Hybroid on 30/05/2025 - 09:02
        +1

        Definitely interesting but only really works in the US as you can turn right on a red anytime in most places.

  • Wiadro on 29/05/2025 - 23:14

    What's The Deal with Drivers Following Stupid Map Routes?

    title fixed

  • pegaxs on 29/05/2025 - 23:19
    +5

    Maybe needed fuel? Using 4 delivery apps at the same time? Taking a friend home? Forgot something? There are a myriad of reason why this would happen…

  • Nutrino on 30/05/2025 - 04:47
    +9

    Why didnt you ASK him/her?

  • Muppet Detector on 30/05/2025 - 07:07
    +1

    He was messing with your head.

  • onetwothreefour on 30/05/2025 - 08:52
    +3

    Because they are an ozbargain user and love drama in the forums

  • ihbh on 30/05/2025 - 09:29
    +1

    Uber drivers don't need any training vs say London black cabbie - mastering the Knowledge typically takes students three to four years. Scans of their brain shows bigger development in route memory, etc. For Uber drivers, this area has probably atrophied, possibly due to limited education, opportunities elsewhere.

    So you're comparing (big) outliers on either side of the normal (or whatever) distribution.

    • Protractor on 30/05/2025 - 10:04
      +2

      Something something peanuts, something something monkeys.

  • GordonD on 30/05/2025 - 10:10
    +4

    One incident and the OP creates are thread here to whinge about it, wasting more of their time than the incident wasted.

    And what can we do about it?

  • ausdday on 30/05/2025 - 11:52
    +2

    I'll be worry if my uber driver detour from the map route, and tell me "don't worry, this is a short cut"

    • MS Paint on 30/05/2025 - 13:01
      -1

      Mrs Paint: "what are you doing, Google says go straight"

      Me: "all g, I know a shortcut"

      Mrs Paint: "we don't have time for one of your shortcuts, just follow Google FFS"

      Me: "ok, you're right"

  • payless69 on 30/05/2025 - 12:04

    I missed a bus in Sydney so I ordered a Didi.
    Usually book minimum distance and they ALL wanna make cash deals.
    During the whole trip he talked in Mandarin to a woman. Lucky I got out near a train station.
    Airport station nearly wanted double the Didi fare for not jumping the gate.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 30/05/2025 - 14:34

    the usual 6 minute ride took 28 minutes(from driver confirmation to destination at arrival)

    You're so close. Almost there.

    These products have become horrible for everyone except the company.

    Stop using them.

    • altomic on 31/05/2025 - 23:05

      what alternative do you suggest?

  • welcomeUniverseWorld on 30/05/2025 - 21:49

    Probably dropping off his gf

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