Another day, another very disturbing incident with one of those driving apps that never fails to disappoint. Yet again, a situation that only adds fuel to the growing backlash they can’t seem to escape.
A few hours ago, a horrific incident went viral, dominating conversations across social media. A traumatized mother shared extremely graphic images of her 16 year old boy who was wildly beaten up by a ride-hailing driver that became extremely aggressive after realizing the trip was set to be paid by credit, not cash. What began as an argument ended in violence, leaving the boy with severe lip injuries and permanent scars on his face, all simply because the ride wasn’t paid in cash!
While reading this, you’ll likely feel a sense of déjà vu. Those countless times you requested a ride, only for the driver to hit you with the dreaded “cash or credit?” just to decide whether to complete or cancel the trip, even after you’ve waited for nearly an hour.
A senseless act that raises serious questions, as if credit rides aren’t still paid. Drivers usually prefer the cash payment method because they claim the company deducts a big commission from the ride fare. Still, nothing justifies the kind of rude behavior or violent reactions that have brought us to this point.
One last point, and one that’s become all too repetitive with the endless string of driving app incidents, is the urgent need to properly vet the drivers you hire. Testing their behaviors, customer interaction and walking them through your app’s payment policies should be the bare minimum. Users are paying for safety. And if you can’t guarantee that, they have every right to delete your app for good. Do you agree?