A journalist's harrowing experience during an Uber ride in Delhi underscores the immediate need for better safety for women commuters in a city that has a national record for high crime rate. In a series of tweets, Preetha Banerjee detailed her horrific experience on Thursday when she decided to take an Uber cab. It all started when she asked the driver to crank up the AC, an innocuous enough request.
But the driver's response jolted Banerjee.
.@Uber_India Your driver Kunwar driving Maruti Swift Dzire DL1Z7123 just threatened to throw me out of the car (1/3)
— Preetha Banerjee (@PreethaBanerjee) September 8, 2016
At around 5:30 pm yesterday, Preetha was on her way back home when she called for an Uber pool, an economic service that allows the commuter to share the cab with other passengers.
When she asked her cab driver to increase the temperature of the AC, her driver snapped at her, telling her that it's his car and he will decide how cold it gets in it.
.@Uber_India my only fault was that I asked to switch the AC to a stronger mode because it was not cooling at all.
— Preetha Banerjee (@PreethaBanerjee) September 8, 2016
.@Uber_India his response: This is my car & I will decide how cold it gets in here. When asked to talk properly he said: You have no manners
— Preetha Banerjee (@PreethaBanerjee) September 8, 2016
Uber responded and tried to help her:
@PreethaBanerjee That is unacceptable! Please share details via https://t.co/N1swcrgDIv and DM your email ID, we'll be in touch.
— Uber India (@Uber_India) September 8, 2016
@PreethaBanerjee Sure! If in an emergency, please use the Help option on you app and click on the SOS button, our team will reach out ASAP.
— Uber India (@Uber_India) September 8, 2016
While she was tweeting at Uber and narrating her experience, her cab driver started cancelling the other pool alerts coming in.
.@Uber_India thanks. Also, I'm Uber pooling and he cancelled all other pool alerts coming to his phone, making it more unsafe!
— Preetha Banerjee (@PreethaBanerjee) September 8, 2016
@PreethaBanerjee Are you on the trip now?
— Uber India (@Uber_India) September 8, 2016
@Uber_India Yes on the trip.
— Preetha Banerjee (@PreethaBanerjee) September 8, 2016
@PreethaBanerjee Please DM us your email ID/phone number, we'll be in touch with you about this.
— Uber India (@Uber_India) September 8, 2016
The driver almost crashed into a bus. At this point, Preetha just wanted her 'hell ride' to end.
.@Uber_India he almost crashed into a bus! Will this hell-ride ever end? He didn't even use navigation & hence I'll be dropped off a km away
— Preetha Banerjee (@PreethaBanerjee) September 8, 2016
@PreethaBanerjee We'd recommend you to end this ride and request another one. We are concerned about you and your driver's safety here.
— Uber India (@Uber_India) September 8, 2016
Eventually, she stopped the cab a kilometre away from her home. However, the driver kept waiting there. "I see he has not left yet. I smell vengeance. Still scared," she tweeted.
.@Uber_India Just got off. A km away from my house on purpose. I see he has not left yet. I smell vengeance. Still scared.
— Preetha Banerjee (@PreethaBanerjee) September 8, 2016
Later, she tweeted saying she is safe. Meanwhile, Uber said that they are taking strict action against the driver.
Recently, an expatriate working in Mumbai was molested by an Uber driver while taking a trip from Pali Hill in Bandra to Andheri. Later, the Mumbai police arrested him.
On its official blog, Uber has guidelines on safety.
"Once your driver has picked you up, share your ETA with your friends and family so they can follow your route and know when to expect you," the blog advices.
It's important to note that Uber India has this advice for commuters who find themselves in similar situations.
@PreethaBanerjee Sure! If in an emergency, please use the Help option on you app and click on the SOS button, our team will reach out ASAP.
— Uber India (@Uber_India) September 8, 2016
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