Five passengers Taxify drivers see every day

1. The Interviewer

Never content to sit in silence, the Interviewer sees you as their very own case study. They view their trip as an opportunity to gather as much information about you as possible – whether or not you’re willing to engage. Their opening line is almost always something along the lines of “Where are you from?”, followed by “How long have you been a Taxify driver?”. If they’re playing fair, they’ll then proceed to tell you where they are from, and what they do for a living. Once your place of birth and career trajectory has been established, they’ll move on to one of the three following subjects: the current political climate (and your opinion about it), the traffic, or, their failsafe: “Have you been busy today?”.

The best way to deal with the Interviewer: Keep your answers short and simple. Interviewers tend to wax lyrical about anything and everything, and unless you’ve got a discreet pair of earphones, or the trip is a short one, you’ll be stuck in a Q&A session that’s as entertaining as watching paint dry.

Level of patience required: 8/10

2. The Complainer

The Complainer is the opposite of happy. Immediately after requesting a trip, he’ll call you to see how far away you are. Once inside the car, he’ll complain about being hot, and ask you to put the aircon on. Three minutes later, he’ll tap you on the shoulder and ask you to turn the aircon down because he’s freezing. Once he’s done complaining about the temperature, the Complainer will proceed to turn his attention to your choice of music, and the volume you’re currently playing it at. After making you switch radio stations and fiddle around with the volume for five minutes, he’ll ask if you have an AUX cable he can use to play his own Spotify playlist. His demands will last as long as the trip.

The best way to deal with the Complainer: Learn how to spot one before accepting a ride request. Failing that, nod and smile, and then give them one out of five stars as soon as they’ve arrived at their destination.

Level of patience required: 10/10

3. The Backseat Driver

Thanks to a handy little device called a smartphone (and the relief of drivers everywhere), taxi drivers no longer have to listen to their passengers explain the best way to get to their destination. That said, some passengers refuse to place their trust in a GPS, and despite the fact that you earn a living navigating the very area they’re trying to describe, they’ll insist on giving minute-by-minute updates as to the best route to take.

The best way to deal with a Backseat Driver: Pretend that you haven’t heard their directions until it’s too late to act on their instruction.

Level of patience required: 7/10

4. The Drunk Student

Possibly the worst passenger to have, the Drunk Student requires infinite patience and a willingness to turn a blind eye. While most frequently encountered on a weekend, the Drunk Student can hail a ride any time, any where. They will almost always ask you to stop at the nearest McDonalds or KFC. Failing that, they’ll ask you to take them to the nearest 24 hour Engen. They have been known to call their significant other and loudly proclaim their undying love or hatred, depending on their level of intoxication.

The best way to deal with the Drunken Student: Open the windows as soon as they get in. Bonus points if you have a bottle of water, a party-size bag of NikNaks, and a plastic bag on hand too.

Level of patience required: 8/10

5. The Cellphone Yapper

The Cellphone Yapper has their phone permanently glued to their ear – from the moment they get into the car, until the moment they arrive at their destination. The benefit of having a Cellphone Yapper is that you don’t have to make small talk. The downside, however, is that you’re forced to listen to one side of a conversation that you have no interest in hearing.

The best way to deal with a Cellphone Yapper: Turn the music up.

Level of patience required: 5/10

While you might not be able to choose your passengers, you are able to choose your insurance. Fill out the form above for one less thing to worry about: competitive Taxify insurance quotes from leading insurance providers.