“10 stars, would ride again.”
A video of a woman’s incredibly hilarious Uber ride has gone viral after she asked for a quiet ride.
On June 18, @hafinwa posted a TikTok of herself in an Uber to the sound of blaring electronic music. As of this writing, the TikTok has been viewed more than 110,000 times. Text overlay reads: “Choose ‘Quiet Preferred’ on the way home from a funeral and this person picks us up.”
The comments overall make light of this unfortunate incident. “Not the vibe you want, but the vibe you need,” one commenter wrote.
However, some comments questioned the meaning of “quiet first.” “I mean, when I say ‘quiet first,’ what I really mean is don’t talk to me,” another added. “So it’s perfect.”
Did this Uber driver violate Uber’s guidelines?
Uber first launched the “Quiet Mode” feature in May 2019. The feature is being introduced across a range of passenger preferences on its premium Uber Black and Uber Black SUV services. The feature is designed to allow passengers to express their conversation preferences before the ride begins, selecting “quiet preferred”, “happy to chat” or “no preference”.
Uber says the feature is designed to help riders who want to work, take a break, take a call or just enjoy a quiet ride without having to explicitly tell the driver they’re not interested in conversation. The company later extended similar preferences to its Uber Comfort rides, where passengers can also request temperature settings and other accommodations.
“Quiet first” doesn’t necessarily mean complete silence. Uber has long described this setting as a preference, not a guarantee of quietness in its cars. According to Uber, the feature is designed to indicate that passengers prefer minimal conversation. However, the feature is still designed to allow drivers to communicate important messages related to their trip.
How are these rules enforced?
Uber representatives have previously stressed that drivers remain independent contractors. This means they are not as strict about adhering to every preference as they are about requiring employees to follow company directives.
Some people interpret “quiet first” as not talking. However, others believe it means a generally quiet environment with little or no music. This explains why misunderstandings like the one depicted in the film can easily occur.
AllHipHop contacted @hafinwa via TikTok private messages and TikTok comments section, and contacted Uber via email. We will update this story if either party responds.
@hafinwa worry-free broth #uber #taxi #uberdriver #taxidriver ♬ Original Sound – HannahHannahHannah
