When a Taxi Turned Into a Night‑Owl Nightmare
Picture this: three little ones, a belly that’s about to flip, and a tick‑timing clock at 9:54 pm on a Sunday night. The family needed a ride from Marsiling to Yishun, but what unfolded was nothing short of a sitcom plot.
Step 1 – The Airport‑Style Show‑Stop
- After the driver arrived, he asked the passenger to hang out for five minutes while taking a cigarette break outside his own car. Classic “I’m busy” vibe, no doubt.
- His wife was already juggling sleepy kiddos, so she let it slide—until the ride went off‑track.
Step 2 – The Wrong Route Drama
The couple had a dream‑route mapped out: BKE SLE Mandai. But the driver was playing “route roulette” and suggested CTE. Wife’s polite “no thanks” turned into a full‑blown map‑check face‑palm.
“Uncle, I’m heading to Yishun—why you want to detour to Toa Payoh?” she asked, five seconds into a dead‑end drive.
Driver’s Damage Control
- The driver went defensive, yelling “No, we’re heading to Mandai!” even while steering towards Lornie Rd / Braddell.
- When the couple asked how much a normal trip to Yishun usually costs, the driver shrugged, “Less than $20.”
Outcome – The Stranding
With no clear destination in sight and the wife and the kids essentially left on the side of the road, the family was stuck. The driver, a ComfortDelGro employee, was subsequently let go for his on‑the‑road antics.
Thanks for riding along in this sleepless saga. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, remember: a little patience and a solid map can save the night from a high‑speed comedial mishap.
Driver accused of being inhumane
Driver Drama: When a Ride Turns Into a Rough Ride
It starts like any other late‑night lift, but quickly spirals into a full‑blown horror show. The driver, visibly on edge, drops a line that no one should ever hear on the street: “I’m not going to drop you off at Toa Payoh.” He’s angsty, refuses to help a pregnant wife with two toddlers and drops them far from their real destination. The confusion? He says he wants to go home—to a place called “Toa Payoh” that he’s probably betrayed in a typo.
Wife’s Panic and the Missing Help
- First wife’s call is a wail of distress: shortness of breath, panic attacks, grieving for the mismatch of love.
- Driver’s blatant refusal to send the family back to Yishun leaves a pregnant mom and her children stranded. Even toddlers ‘crying’ in the background.
- On the hotline, the customer service rep drops a mildly condescending line: “Why are you crying when the driver offered you $20?”
- After a rough explanation, the rep finally admits the mistake. Yet, the entire episode is labeled “utterly disgusting.”
What They Paid, What They Lost
The dreaded receipt, posted online, shows the trip ran until 10:45 PM for a price of $27.15. The driver’s departure time indicates the extraction from the island was almost at midnight, a risky time for a pregnant woman and two sleepy toddlers. The ride turned into a distress call that left the wife battling panic attacks and sleepless nights.
ComfortDelGro’s Response
Behind a breezy email, ComfortDelGro’s corporate communications officer Tammy Tan called the cabby’s actions “unacceptable” and fired the driver immediately. “Our cabbies are expected to be professional by taking the right routes and finishing every trip,” she wrote.
But the bottom line: the driver was clearly inhumane and the service from the taxi company was far from helpful. The mother’s experience was “utterly disgusting”, and the driver’s job is terminated to prevent such nightmares from happening again.
For the Future
This incident is a cautionary tale for anyone relying on ride‑hailing services: if you notice a driver refusing a proper route or showing an attitude that’s less than 100 % of what you expected, don’t hesitate to report them. Sometimes, the only safety net you have is a support system that takes your concerns seriously—otherwise, the ride might just end on an emotional roller coaster you’ll never forget.
