Taxi Etiquette 101
Sometimes, people can get so caught up in trying to get to where they need to be that they forget their manners. Because as many taxi drivers know, not all customers are the same! While some treat you with kindness and respect, others can be awfully rude and condescending. To make sure you're not the latter, here are 10 things taxi drivers hate that passengers do and 10 they always appreciate.
1. Bad Personal Hygiene
This is something that everyone should be mindful of no matter where you are, a taxi, in a park, or a mall. Taxi drivers feel incredibly uncomfortable when customers show up in their car smelling of body odor, wearing dirty clothes, or anything of the sort. Keeping yourself clean isn't just about respecting yourself, it's about respecting others too.
2. Talking About Personal Matters
It doesn't matter if you're talking to someone else on the phone or directly to your driver, the short story is, they never want to hear about the personal details of your life. You should be aware that someone else is in the car, even if it is the taxi driver, and keep certain matters to yourself.
3. Blasting Their Own Music
If you want to politely ask your taxi driver if you could play your own music, go for it. Don't just go blasting your own music on speaker - it's rude! Not only is it distracting, it's incredibly disrespectful and shows that you're completely disregarding the driver and their wishes.
4. Ignoring Questions
If your taxi driver is asking you relevant questions about where you need to go, how to get there, etc., don't ignore them. It's not just plain rude, it's also just wasting both of your time! They're only asking you because they need to know, not because they're trying to strike up a conversation.
5. Not Paying
Yes, it should be common knowledge that you need to pay for taxi rides. So when drivers have to deal with customers who are difficult about paying or refuse to, it can feel like the most frustrating thing. After all, shouldn't everyone just know this by now?
6. Being A Backseat Driver
Don't forget that the moment you sit down in a taxi, you're the passenger and not the driver. So don't sit in the back telling them what to do! Taxi drivers definitely don't appreciate customers who have to comment on every little thing they're doing. They do this for a living - trust them.
7. Slamming The Doors
There's no need to make a loud noise and scare the driver! Instead of slamming the doors, politely close them as any normal person should. Besides, it's not your car which means you should be taking the extra step to treat it with care.
Benjamin Nwaneampeh on Unsplash
8. Making A Mess
Furthermore, because this isn't your own car, it's your duty to keep the space as clean as tidy as possible. It is unbelievably disrespectful if customers think they can make a mess and expect the driver to clean up after them.
9. Eating In The Car
Why does it seem like some people purposefully wait until they're in the taxi to start eating? This is one annoyance many drivers share; not only does it create the chance for a big mess, not everyone appreciates having to smell other people's food or watch them eat as they drive.
10. Demanding Different Routes
If you wanted to get to your location so badly yourself, why'd you get into a taxi? While giving respectful suggestions are appreciated, completely trying to dominate the route and telling your taxi driver how you want to get there is taking things too far.
1. Sharing A Greeting
You don't need to share conversation during the entire ride, but a simple "hello" or "good morning" can really show off your kindness and friendliness. It can put both the driver and passenger at ease, knowing that you're both respectful human beings.
2. Saying Thank You
Didn't your parents teach you the importance of "please" and "thank you"? Once you reach your location, it can put a smile on your drivers face if you kindly thank them for getting you to your destination safe and sound. A little bit of respect and gratitude can go a long way for strangers!
3. Keeping To Their Personal Space
Taxi drivers are humans who love their own personal space too, so it's a passengers job to respect that. Don't pry about personal information, and most importantly, don't touch them as if you know them! Drivers love any customer who fully understands this.
4. Show Up On Time
Just because you're the one calling for a taxi doesn't mean you can leave them waiting. Making sure that you're always on time just means you care about other people's time and feelings.
5. Helping With Bags
Obviously, most taxi drivers will help you load your bags and luggage into the trunk, but it doesn't hurt to help. Drivers love it when customers are kind and give them a hand instead of just leaving their stuff on the side of the road and immediately jumping into the backseat.
6. Being Ready To Pay
If you already know you have to pay at the end of the ride, drivers love it when passengers think ahead and are already prepared by the time they hit the brakes. After all, why not speed up the process for the sake of you both?
7. Letting Drivers Do Their Thing
The best passengers are the ones who don't interfere and let drivers, well, drive. It's about knowing your place and trusting the driver; after all, you're the one paying for their service!
8. Providing Tips For Good Service
If a driver goes out of their way to provide excellent service and friendly interactions, it wouldn't hurt to give them a little extra something right? While getting a tip is obviously nice, drivers just appreciate it when customers recognize their hard work and extra attention.
9. Staying Calm
As we all know, the roads can be pretty unpredictable times. From getting into accidents to dealing with heavy traffic, there are a lot of things that are outside of a taxi driver's control. That's why calm passengers are the best - they don't get emotional over external factors.
10. Being Clear
Taxi drivers only want one thing from you: where you want to go. Giving confusing directions, locations, or just being plain unclear can be very frustrating to deal with. That's why the clearer and more straightforward you are, the more your driver will love you.
