Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Freaking out about taxis and Ubers all of a sudden

49 replies

palmtreees · 06/10/2023 21:21

For years and years while I lived in zone two london, I was constantly in Ubers late at night. No issues at all. I caught Ubers to the airport early in the morning, while it was dark. In the middle of the night, after having some drinks etc - all alone, no issues.

Then there were a couple of times I was abroad for work and took Ubers / taxis on my own in unfamiliar cities and started freaking out.

I've moved slightly out of town now. It's a suburb in london but very close to countryside.

I recently had to take an Uber at 4 am while it was dark to go to the airport and the driver took the country roads. He was driving at around 5-10 miles per hour around some very very rural bendy roads and I was absolutely terrified he was going to stop the car and kill me. I cannot describe how terrified I was. My husband, the idiot, fell right back to sleep as soon as I left, so I couldn't even call him. I did share my trip with him.

Anyway, I know it's irrational but I just cannot do this again I have another early flight coming up and I am considering driving myself and parking at the airport.

Last night I took an Uber from central london back home and I didn't feel scared at all or worried because all the roads were main roads and I knew them. The fear comes on when I'm in unfamiliar places and on very quiet roads.

Can anyone relate ?

I always share my location but I still just sit there terrified.

OP posts:

PikachuChickenRice · 06/10/2023 22:34

EmmaEmerald · 06/10/2023 22:24

A registered taxi firm will do the same. I wouldn’t use Uber.

Show quote history

No they don't!
I can barely get their shitty tracking 'apps' to work or anybody to pick up the phone no confidence at all.

BadBadDecisions · 06/10/2023 22:34

Finding this thread a bit weird. I wouldn't think twice about getting in a taxi or an Uber really (although I had an incident in a taxi years ago) and I definitely wouldn't expect my husband to stay awake to track my journey.

Chypre · 06/10/2023 22:34

I absolutely can relate, but also my female friend works as uber driver in USA and is terrified to get killed by her passengers. I always tell it to myself as a mantra - the driver probably is as jumpy as I am and just wants for this shift to be over and get home safely (in one piece).

DresdenDoll · 06/10/2023 22:36

Yes I prefer Ubers for this reason. I use them a lot - several times a week - and have never felt unsafe.

Plonkandplonkers · 06/10/2023 22:41

BadBadDecisions · 06/10/2023 22:34

I'm with you. I can never decide when I'm on Mumsnet and read the fears that others have whether I've just had a really charmed life or whether I'm stupidly naïve not to see all these dangers everywhere. I'm not being sarcastic, I just genuinely can't work it out.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 06/10/2023 22:49

A few years ago my dd took a cab which I called from a London hotel, using their own suggestion for the cab company. The vile man drove her half across London whilst telling her constantly that he could kidnap her and take her to his home. He didn't. He clearly wanted to frighten her, and got a thrill from it. Some men are pigs. If they work for a taxi company, it can be any one.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 06/10/2023 22:50

(And yes, a decent hotel)

PinkMoscatoLover · 06/10/2023 23:02

I don’t understand when people say they prefer a standard Taxi company to Uber/Bolt/Free Now when they’re literally the same thing. Drivers are still DBS checked and registered with TFL. You see who your driver is beforehand, you have the reg plate and can also see their ratings & reviews. You can share the trip with people too. You can’t share the trip with someone when you’re in a standard cab, fuck that.

Anyway OP I totally get you. I live in SW London (Zone 2) and I’d get a cab by myself anytime of day. There’s always other care on the road, people walking around, streetlights etc even on back roads. When I moved to Kent in 2019, I missed my stop and had to go all the way to Margate when I wanted to get off at Canterbury. This was the last train so I couldn’t get another train on the way back.

There were cabs waiting outside of the station so I got in one and asked the driver to take me to Canterbury. It was midnight in December, my battery had died and the journey was isolated as FUCK. My God. We were literally driving through fields, no lights anywhere we were just surrounded by greenery. The only light you could see were the headlights that only revealed a small distance in front of the car.

I was so scared. The driver did nothing to make me unsettled but I was panicking that I’m in the middle of nowhere and he’s just going to ditch my body in the forest. I lived to tell the tale thank God but that was the last time I took the cab in Kent. Now I’m back in London and I’d happily get in a cab alone drunk from the club. I always make it home safe and like I said, it’s so much more reassuring when you’re surrounded by noise, people and other cars on the road.

If you can drive to the airport and stay in your car for the night then I’d do it! Or ask DH to stay on the phone until you reach your destination. You’re definitely not alone with experiencing this

sassile · 06/10/2023 23:16

I live in zone 2 and I never take Ubers in London except when public transport isn't an option at all (after surgery, or needing to get there quicker). I just feel safer on a bus or tube with cctv and the streets between the bus stop/station and home are never quiet. Although admittedly I've not been out as late as 4am for at least a decade! It's one reason I prefer living centrally, I feel far safer with people around than in quiet suburban streets.

panelbottle · 06/10/2023 23:26

I feel far safer with people around than in quiet suburban streets.

Tbf one of the advantage of those suburban streets are the older residents who are great at a bit of neighbour watch.

panelbottle · 06/10/2023 23:28

Remember that cab drivers can be scared too. I know a few that were threatened by customers with knifes etc back in the day.

panelbottle · 06/10/2023 23:36

@Plonkandplonkers I grew up in a then rough part of London. Prostitutes, junkies, pimps, kerb crawlers etc were just normal part of my journey to school. Seen a number of muggings & fights in my younger years. Im definitely much more cautious & aware because of it. I see some young women walking late at night with headphones or men tapping away on their phones completely oblivious to their surroundings & it's just something I would never do.

panelbottle · 06/10/2023 23:37

I don't have a problem answering my door though!

SoftPillowAllNight · 06/10/2023 23:48

I had a similar experience with a work colleague some 20 years ago. Huge man, could easily overpower me, decided to take countryside route with almost no lights and drive so slowly! No signal either. Terrified. Never took a lift from anyone after that, also wary of Uber/taxi unless I am in familiar roads. I'd take my car and park at the airport too. Why take a chance at 4am?!

C00kp1ssBabtridge · 07/10/2023 00:03

I was reading this thread on the train home, about to get an uber from the train station to house at 11pm. I don't usually think twice about it, I've used hundreds of Ubers and never had any issues and like some PP have been alerted if the car was stopped and you get to press a button if you need help. I personally feel the tech makes it safer as it would be hard not to get caught. But after reading this thread, I did start to worry slightly...
Luckily the driver was completely uninterested in murdering me.

Heelenahandbasket · 07/10/2023 00:06

MidnightOnceMore · 06/10/2023 21:47

I would use a proper taxi firm. You can make a call when you get in the cab too so the driver knows someone knows.

It's not an uncommon fear.

Uber is a proper taxi firm. And no evidence black cabs or local cab companies are safer.

comfyshoes2022 · 07/10/2023 00:24

KrisAkabusi · 06/10/2023 21:53

Surely Ubers are safer than taxis. There's a complete record of your trip, what time everything happened, drivers details etc. None if which you get if you hail a taxi.

This is my feeling. I usually choose an upgraded ride so I know it’s a driver with a good history as I can also be anxious.

Original poster

palmtreees · 07/10/2023 09:11

SoftPillowAllNight · 06/10/2023 23:48

Thanks ! I thought I was in the minority to feel this way. My husband also doesn't seem to really understand and thinks I'm being a bit ridiculous. I'll drive to the airport myself and I'll drive myself home too. Why put myself through the anxiety and stress. I just don't need it.

OP posts:

Peachonthebeach · 07/10/2023 09:21

I had the same experience op. Was totally fine, used taxis all the time, then one night a friend booked my Uber pick up from the airport. She’d found a cheap option and the driver, like yours took a route over the moors. I had no clue where we were and the phone reception was zero, he was driving super slowly and I was rummaging in my bag for my keys and sharp objects in case I needed to defend myself. It was 3am and terrifying. Next time I’ll book my own cars every time!

Awrite · 07/10/2023 09:30

I get it op. Fortunately, I don't have much need for a taxi these days but if we're abroad I hate it. So, to avoid feeling like I did during a 50 minute taxi ride in Paris 6 years ago, I plan everything using public transport.

In UK, during the night I would drive. So, I get your solution. Why put yourself through the fear?

1daughterand3sons · 04/04/2024 23:16

I feel safer in a Uber.
One time I was taking a Uber somewhere and we was stuck in behind a bus that had broke down on a one way road no way to move until bus was moved. I got a call from someone at Uber asking if everything was ok.

Pemberleyprobs · 04/04/2024 23:24

Oh totally relate. Taxis are dead to me now - I will happily forgo alcohol/pay obscene amounts for parking just to hop into the safety of my own little car.

And I say this as someone who got cabs all round London alone for years when I was younger! Interesting to read others’ thoughts on this too.

Stardust1985 · 04/04/2024 23:25

We live rurally and don't have Uber here. However, we have a taxi company who have monopolised the local area. They have an awful reputation locally, rumours of robberies and sexual abuse, difficult to ignore but also one of those general 'stories' with no real proof or evidence. Six ish months ago my cousin booked a taxi through them. The driver pulled up on the way home and started saying really explicit things to her. He then pulled up in a farm gateway and got in the back with her - he told her he was lost but then began to touch her. Thankfully she knew the farmer by complete chance, she jumped and ran and was able to get to safety quickly. I would not ever take a taxi as a female by myself again. It's inconvenient, it's a pain and it means I often drive when I fancy a drink. But YANBU.

Springchickenonion · 04/04/2024 23:28

Don't ubers have to have taxi licenses now? So essentially a taxi. Don't quote me on that though

Flip

1 2