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. Moments into the journey, the driver pulled over, saying his phone had stopped showing directions. Unbeknownst to her, he had ended the trip in the app, so tracking stopped completely.

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.

Similar events have surfaced recently, with Delhi police noting multiple cases of dangerous auto driver behavior, including suspected abductions. For example, a teen girl in Thane recently escaped by using a compass and leaping from a moving auto.

 

 

Public Reaction on Reddit

Many Reddit users expressed alarm and empathy, writing remarks such as, “Terrifying experience” labubu dolls and “Absolutely scary”. Some suggested she lodge a police complaint and pressure Ola via social media to take action.

Others offered advice and recounted similar incidents:

• Have your keys ready to defend yourself if needed.
• Speak loudly about your route or keep navigation on speaker so the driver feels monitored.
• Use metro transport as a safer alternative when traveling solo.
• Avoid using Ola, citing poor safety features.

 

 

Key Travel Safety Advice from Her Experience

• Reconsider Booking Solo Rides: Booking alone can be risky as you can’t always know the driver.
• Match The Auto Number: Only get in if the plate matches the app listing.
• Only Board After OTP Verification: Board once your one-time code is entered and the trip is live.
• Monitor the Ride on Your Phone: Stay on the app to ensure the ride remains active.
• Send Live Location to Someone: Let a family member or friend track your trip live.
• Sit Safely: Sit on the open side to escape quickly if required.
• Know Your Route: Avoid unknown routes where you can’t judge if the driver diverts.
• Verify Driver’s Path Live: Use live navigation to confirm correct directions.
• 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 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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