With this review, I would like to briefly discuss some pros and cons of passengers sitting directly behind the seat of an Uber or Lyft driver and how a driver should professionally handle situations like these. Have you ever wondered about what Uber drivers should do when it pertains to passengers sitting directly behind them? When I say that a passenger is sitting directly behind the Uber driver, I’m referring to the passenger sitting directly behind the driver’s seat and not behind the drivers front right passenger seat. I hope I didn’t lose you with that one. I’m also referring to when riders are riding by themselves and not with other passengers who are tagging alongside.
I don’t know about other Rideshare drivers, but this professional driver here feels as though there should be some sort of protocol in place for “backhanded” moments like these. Not just for safety purposes but also for peace of mind purposes as well lol. Especially when riding during certain times of the day or night like myself. I start a lot of my nights between 6:00 p.m and 10:00 p.m at night and I know I’m not the only driver. So thanks to having tons of previous encounters, I thought I’d provide some friendly advice like I’ve already done with my other reviews in hopes of helping to keep my Uber and Lyft communities safe!
Here at #1RideShareDoc, I’m all about sharing my personal story and 37,000 rides of personal experiences with you guys. Let’s relate! Let me help prepare future Uber/Lyft drivers and passengers for this scary, hectic Rideshare industry. Let’s discuss the things that these Rideshare companies aren’t talking about. Companies like Uber, Lyft, Via and Sidecar, just to name a few! Wouldn’t it be easier to handle not just these types of unfortunate circumstances, but other uncomfortable circumstances as well, if only you knew what to say or do when those moments present itself? That being said, let’s begin..
This review will be divided into the following sections, for better absorption and clearer understanding purposes:
Introduction
Why is “Sitting Directly Behind Your Uber Driver” A Good Thing? What Are Some Pros?
Why Is Sitting Directly Behind Your Uber Driver A Bad Thing? What Are Some Cons?
How Should An Uber Driver Handle Situations Like These?
Are There Any Ways Of Preventing A Passenger From Sitting Directly Behind The Driver’s Seat?
My Professional Conclusion
Why is “Sitting Directly Behind Your Uber Driver” A Good Thing? What Are Some Pros?
Now for me to explain why sitting directly behind your Uber driver might be a good thing, I would first have to divide this portion into two parts. The first part being for passengers and the second being for drivers. The reason for this is because there’s two different ways of looking at these types of situations. Not to mention the fact that you can’t have one without the other! That said, I would first like to start with why sitting directly behind your Uber driver might be a good thing when it pertains to being a passenger. Sitting behind your Rideshare driver might be a good thing for the following reasons including:
1.) Protecting Yourself: If the Uber driver ever decided to act a fool while the passengers riding along in their car, the passenger could easily attack the driver and do whatever is needed to stop them from operating their vehicle. This could be anything from punching or choking the driver, to stabbing the driver multiple times! And who doesn’t like having the upper hand, especially when you’re feeling like your life is in danger?
2.) More Privacy: When a passenger is feeling like they don’t want to be bothered or looked at for that matter, sitting directly behind the driver could definitely help meet those needs. Or at least for me it would! Your driver would not only not be able to see you, but they also wouldn’t be able to see what you may be doing while sitting behind them. Especially if you’re the type of rider that likes to keep fidgeting and moving around. It’s not like your driver has eyes behind their head right?
3.) More Available Space For Personal Belongings: Sometimes when a passenger is bringing a lot of personal belongings along for a ride and not an extra rider, they may have to use some of the drivers back or front seat area space for storage room. Especially when the trunk space is already stuffed with everything that the passenger could possibly fit in it. So using the backseat area for extra storage space could allow a passenger to bring more items along for the ride. It’s not like the passengers belongings would be in the driver’s way in any way, shape or form right?
4.) Your Destination Is On The Left: Sometimes when a passenger is being dropped off, their destination might be on the left. Moments like these are also when passengers decide to sit directly behind the driver seat, which could also be understandable at times. Especially when a passenger already knows that it’s going to be a lot of traffic or something else hindering them on the opposite side of the vehicle upon arrival. What passenger isn’t trying to exit a Rideshare driver’s vehicle just as safely as they entered it?
Now that we’ve gotten the passengers out of the way..
Next I would like to explain why a passenger sitting directly behind an Uber driver might be a good thing when it pertains to being an Uber driver. Passengers that choose to sit directly behind the drivers driver seat might be a good thing for the following reasons including:
1.) More Privacy Protection: If an Uber driver ever found themselves feeling sleepy, frustrated, angry or simply not wanting to be bothered with or looked at for that matter, then having a rider sit directly behind them may not be such a bad idea! I mean how would a passenger really know how the driver might be feeling or how the driver may be doing if they can’t see the drivers face or body language?
2.) Better Focus On The Road: If a Rideshare driver ever found themselves lacking in the category of being able to focus, the driver may be able to focus a little better thanks to that good’ole privacy protection I just mentioned. There would be no possible way for the passenger to distract the Uber driver unless the passenger decided to be extra fidgety or talkative while sitting directly behind the drivers seat. Or at least that’s how I would look at it. From my personal experiences of course!
3.) Less G.P.S Worries: If a Rideshare driver ever found themselves having GPS connection issues or direction issues in general, then a passenger sitting directly behind the driver’s seat would be a perfect case scenario for the driver. The driver wouldn’t have to worry about the passenger butting in and offering their two cents. Well, unless the driver was looking for the passengers help. But if not, a passenger sitting directly behind the driver could especially come in handy when a driver clearly understands why they’re electronic device isn’t operating properly, but also understands that it’ll be working shortly. Who really feels like having to explain something concerning something they may already know about?
Why Is Sitting Directly Behind Your Uber Driver A Bad Thing? What Are Some Cons?
For me to explain why sitting directly behind your Uber driver might be a bad thing, I would also have to divide this portion into two parts like I’ve already done with the previous portion. With that in mind, I’ll begin by first explaining the disadvantages of sitting directly behind an Uber driver as a passenger. Sitting directly behind your Rideshare driver as a passenger could be a bad thing for the following reasons:
1.) Having A Clear View: A passenger sitting directly behind the drivers seat is like a passenger willingly putting a blindfold on to what’s happening in front of the vehicle. It’s also like putting on a blindfold to what the Uber driver may be concealing in their laps which could present a real dangerous situation for the passenger if the driver were to all of a sudden have a nervous breakdown.
2.) Being Able To See Your Driver: When a passenger decides to sit directly behind the driver’s seat, doing this could hinder the passenger’s ability to see the driver’s facial expressions and body languages. Who wants to be driven by a driver who may not be feeling well or maybe feeling a little upset for whatever reason? You don’t think that knowing the basic feelings of how your driver may be feeling could play a part in your safety? Just a little something to think about.
3.) Less Space: Now I don’t know about other Rideshare drivers. But this driver likes to have his driver seat adjusted to a certain position where my legs don’t constantly go to sleep, my back doesn’t lock up and my arms have enough room to make constant, continuous turns. That being said, a lot of times when a passenger decides to sit directly behind the driver seat (especially this driver lol!), the passenger doesn’t have enough leg or stomach room (for my big folks!), creating a tight, uncomfortable ride experience. I don’t know about you guys, but I like riding comfortable..
4.) Bad Way To Communicate: Sinceboth the driver and the passenger would have very little visual when it involves communicating with one another, the overall communication inside the Lyft vehicle would be slightly off. It can be quite difficult for a passenger to hear the drivers voice with the passenger sitting directly behind them! Especially in bad weather, when the windows are down or when the radios on.
Now that we’ve gotten the passengers out of the way, you know what’s next..
Next I would like to explain why sitting directly behind your Uber driver might be a bad thing when it pertains to being an Uber driver. Passengers that choose to sit directly behind the drivers seat might be a bad thing for the following reasons including:
1.) Protecting Yourself: If an Uber driver ever found themselves having to protect themselves from a dangerous passenger, then the driver would have already lost the battle! It’s not like the driver can just raise their arm and cut or shoot the passenger in self-defense. The passenger on the other hand has the option of punching, stabbing, tazing, masing, choking the driver out or even worse shooting the driver if they chose to do so. And the most you can do as a driver in circumstances like these is hope and pray that the passenger doesn’t finish the job by taking your life!
2.) Being Robbed: If an Uber driver ever finds themselves being robbed by a criminal passenger, the driver again has already lost this battle before the war even begins! There’s no procedure for when you’re being robbed, especially when you’re a Rideshare driver which would only make the situation worse. And even if there were a procedure for when you’re being robbed, as a driver you would still lose right? Not to mention again the fact that the robber would be sitting directly behind you the entire time the robbery is going down. Imagine for a second trying to show a robber who’s in control!
3.) Generally Being Able To See The Passenger:
When a passenger sits directly behind the driver’s seat, the driver’s inability to observe the passenger or the passengers actions could lead to potential incidents, particularly in the event of a dispute or disagreement taking place.
There definitely is something that a professional Rideshare driver could do when being faced with a passenger who’s attempting to sit directly behind their driver’s seat. Once you’ve arrived at your pickup address, you could first start by paying attention to which side of the vehicle your passenger is attempting to get in on. Next, if you notice the passenger attempting to get in using your back left passenger door, you could stop them by immediately making them aware that the other side would be a better or more comfortable choice for them, unless there are other passengers coming along for the ride.
And whether the passenger does or doesn’t agree with you, always keep your passenger doors locked until you know what your passenger is going to do next. Doing this would not only keep the driver safe, but would also reassure that the rider is comfortable and doesn’t sit directly behind the driver’s seat.
Are There Any Ways Of Preventing A Passenger From Sitting Directly Behind The Driver’s Seat?
There are actually a few ways I go about preventing passengers from sitting directly behind my driver’s seat. Stop in the passenger by verbally telling them to sit on the opposite side normally is my last resort when all else fails. That said, a driver could prevent a passenger from sitting directly behind their driver’s seat by doing the following:
1.) Adjust Your Vehicle: Once a Rideshare driver has arrived and located the passengers exact pickup address, a driver should immediately adjust their vehicle in a way where their vehicles back right passenger door faces the passengers pickup address. Even if they’re already standing outside! I’ve realized over the years that doing this is literally like coaching a passenger into getting in on a particular side. You know, the side you would like for them to get in on!
Especially since that door would be the closest door to them as they’re approaching the vehicle. From my personal experience, passengers tend to go for the closest door without the driver saying a word!
2.) Place A Sign: Rideshare drivers could also take it a step further by placing a sign either on the back windows or behind the headrest of the front seats. Just be sure to specify that your sign only pertains to passengers riding one at a time and not groups. Try to imagine having to pick up four passengers who think that one of them has to sit on the other’s lap due to a driver not wanting anyone sitting directly behind them. Sounds crazy right?
My Professional Conclusion
Now to conclude this short review, I would like to say that it’s always a good idea for drivers and passengers to be mindful of the circumstances they’re getting themselves into when deciding to use these Rideshare apps. Always keep in mind that your getting into real cars with real people who could do real things to you if you’re not aware of it. When a Rideshare driver isn’t able to see their passenger or the passenger isn’t able to see their driver, bad things tend to happen and they tend to come to you in the form of a surprise.
A big surprise actually! Especially since you won’t see it coming. So let this review be a reminder to take the blindfold off! Let this review be a reminder for all of my Rideshare drivers to pay attention to how they arrive when picking up their passengers. If you position your vehicle right, you won’t have to worry about your passenger attempting to sit directly behind your seat. And even if you did, all you would have to do is keep your doors locked, verbally make the passenger aware and everything should be just fine. Everyone gets to feel safe at the end of the day!
Now that we’re approaching the end of another great review, would you guys have anything to say or ADD to this review concerning writers sitting directly behind the Uber drivers? Did you guys agree or disagree with what I said concerning why passengers shouldn’t sit directly behind for Uber driver? Whether you do or don’t agree, I would love to hear what’s on your mind! Please feel free to leave your stories, thoughts, comments and concerns at the bottom of this review and I will be sure to respond back to you promptly.
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