Whether it’s witnessing a drug deal, glitter covered seats or trips through McDonald’s drive-thru, a day in the life of an Uber driver is never a dull one.
Since the ride share app launched in Sydney six years ago, it has transformed the way many Australians travel and provided an opportunity for work for thousands more.
In a video released by the Kristen and Wilko show, several drivers have revealed the most memorable passengers they have encountered through the service.
Several Canberra Uber drivers shared their most memorable on-the-job experiences in a video by local radio station MIX 106.3
One local driver told the show he suspects he was an accidental party to a drug deal.
‘He said I’ve just got to drop some money off to a mate,’ said the driver.
‘(The passenger) came out about five minutes later and he was like blah blah blah the whole way back. So, I thought yeah, you’ve just done a drug deal and had a sample of the goods.’
But witnessing an alleged drug deal was far from the worst incident, with one driver admitting, ‘someone got in my car and smelt like they’d had an accident’.
Another driver shared a time he was given a one-star review for an unusual reason.
The passenger was described as ‘daggering drunk with slurred speech’ who fell asleep soon after the trip began.
When the Uber reached the man’s house he was still passed out, which led to him being stirred awake by the Uber employee.
‘He got out of the car, stood in the open door and just abused me, because I ”hadn’t woken him up the right way,”’ said the driver.
Uber employs over 5000 Australian drivers and according to those in the video their most memorable have included playing witness to suspected drug deals and ‘accidents’ while in transit
Despite the occasional case of drunken verbal abuse, the Uber drivers said most passenger experiences were positive ones.
‘The festivals are quite fun’ one driver shared.
‘Although clothes are optional,’ he said.
‘They’re mad for the glitter, it took me weeks to clean the car out.’
And pyjama-clad passengers shouldn’t worry about requesting a late night McDonald’s run, as long as the driver’s request is included on the order.
‘I had a couple of young girls the other night, they spent 75 dollars between the two of them,’ revealed the driver.
‘But they bought me a coffee, so that was good.’