Taxi drivers highlight the biggest antisocial habits from the backseats of a cab
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Taxi drivers from across the UK have been sharing the passenger behaviours that make their working lives difficult. The responses reveal a wide mix of frustrations, from light-hearted irritations to serious concerns over hygiene, respect and safety.
One of the most common themes was passenger backseat navigation. Rich Booth described how some customers stay silent for the majority of a journey, only to chime in with directions right at the end. “Oh it’s the next left then the first right,” is the kind of last-minute call that leaves drivers bemused after already covering 99 per cent of the route. Sean Simpson said another annoyance was being told “you should have gone that way” mid-journey, undermining the driver’s knowledge of the roads. John Carter noted that vague drop-off instructions, such as “just down there on the left”, often left drivers guessing where passengers actually lived.
Behaviour inside the vehicle was another recurring issue. Several drivers spoke about passengers putting their feet on seats, brushing dirt off their clothes once inside, or letting children climb onto seats and look out of the rear window. Miguel Wilson said he regularly had to tell parents off for allowing children to stand on seats, calling it a sign of poor parenting. Abdul Bari added that unhygienic habits, from nose picking to leaving tissues behind, were particularly frustrating.
Hygiene was a strong concern more generally. Graham H Watson listed the smell of cannabis as one of the most unpleasant things to deal with, while others simply labelled “smelly people” as some of the hardest passengers to carry. Justin Mulchinock-Roche said poor personal hygiene was a problem drivers should not have to face while providing a public service.
Food and drink were another flashpoint. Barry Coull explained that eating in a moving vehicle often resulted in spills, leaving drivers with the mess. Santhosh Kumar and Wayne Davis both said passengers bringing alcohol, soft drinks or food on board was unwelcome, not only because of the potential for stains but also because it created distractions during the drive.
Control of the cab itself was also raised. Andrew Peters said passengers who ask for music to be played on short trips, or worse, start adjusting radio and dash controls without asking, were a nuisance. Shaun Dixon mentioned the irritation of passengers rolling windows down while the air conditioning is already running at full power, wasting fuel and defeating the point of climate control.
Social behaviour in the backseat drew plenty of comment too. Some drivers said they disliked groups who sat in silence for the entire journey, creating an awkward atmosphere, while others found passengers who talked non-stop just as irritating. Paul Train said that hearing customers talk about Uber was something he would happily do without. Tracey Vann pointed to the regular question about whether taxi doors closed automatically, while David Brown said it was frustrating when people asked “are you working?” while he was clearly first in line on a taxi rank.
Late-night work brings its own challenges too. Several drivers referred to heavily intoxicated passengers as a frequent problem. Chris Earl recalled occasions where passengers were so impaired that police or ambulance assistance was needed to get them home safely. Michael Jacob kept his answer short, saying only “sick”, but highlighting the mess drivers are often left to deal with after weekend nights.
Other drivers summed up their frustrations bluntly. Some said “people”, “customers” or “kids” were at the root of most problems, while others gave more specific gripes such as loud phone conversations, passengers coughing without covering their mouths, or those demanding a stop at a drive-through mid-journey.
The collection of responses provides a picture of the challenges faced daily by taxi drivers. While some irritations are minor and part of the job, others raise questions about hygiene, respect and behaviour in what is, ultimately, a professional working environment.
