Delhi Woman Shares Terrifying Auto Ride Experience to Alert Others
{A woman in Delhi had a very scary morning when her ride in an auto-rickshaw took a frightening turn. Her account went viral on Reddit, raising alarms about the risks of using autos and app-based rides.
What Happened
The woman, who uses apps to book autos for work, chose Ola after her usual app had no autos available. A few minutes into the ride, the driver suddenly stopped, claiming his phone wasn’t working to see the way. She discovered later that he ended the ride in-app, disabling any tracking.
Soon after, the driver turned onto a road that felt completely wrong, triggering alarm bells in her mind. She noticed they were traveling in the opposite direction toward a location almost two hours away, instead of her usual short route.
Despite her protests, the driver kept insisting Google Maps was guiding that way, while speeding along major roads where she couldn’t safely get out.
Thankfully, she texted her partner, who swiftly called and pressured the driver to return. After a tense exchange and her even considering jumping out, the driver finally turned back near her home, without asking for any money, and sped off. She and her partner became convinced this was an attempted kidnapping, as the driver didn’t even want payment.
Disturbed and angry, she learned Ola lacked emergency features, only advising her to contact the police.
Authorities have reported other cases in Delhi and nearby cities involving auto drivers behaving dangerously, even attempting kidnappings. In one recent Thane case, a teen saved herself by jumping out of a moving auto using a compass to orient herself.
How People Responded Online
Her Reddit account received dozens of shocked responses, with people commenting things like, “Horrifying!” and “That’s terrifying”. Many urged her to report to police and publicly call out Ola on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Many chipped in with personal experiences and suggestions:
• Keep your house keys handy as an emergency defense.
• Announce your path over a call or have maps playing aloud to alert the driver someone is aware.
• Choose metro travel instead of booking autos when alone if feasible.
• Many agreed Ola’s safety shortcomings make it unreliable.
Her Must-Know Solo Travel Safety Guidelines
• Think Twice Before Booking Alone: It’s safer to avoid solo bookings since drivers can’t be easily vetted.
• Confirm Auto’s Plate Matches the App: Ensure the auto’s number matches the app record before entering.
• Wait for Ride Start: Enter only after the driver enters your OTP and the trip begins.
• Keep App Open: Stay on the app to ensure the ride remains active.
• Send Live Location to Someone: Always share your live route with someone you trust.
• Sit Safely: Sit on the open side to escape quickly if required.
• Know Your Route: Stick to roads you’re familiar with to avoid risk.
• Verify Driver’s Path Live: Follow along on maps to spot detours.
• Stay Alert for Nearby Officers: Stay aware of police patrols in case you need help.
• Do Not Use Ola Due to Safety Gaps: Her strongest advice was to avoid Ola given the company’s lack of safeguards.
Such incidents Startup Closure stress the importance of enhanced safety tools, driver screening, and live monitoring by taxi apps.
Note: This account hasn’t been confirmed by Duniya Daily News Team and is shared from Reddit solely for informational purposes.
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