‘When was he gonna tell me’: Woman orders Uber to get to her job, then realizes where her driver is actually taking her

Content creator Alex Eden’s video went viral after her Uber driver made an unexpected stop at an automatic car wash while she was heading to work. The video has been viewed more than 294,000 times. In the footage, Eden filmed herself inside the car as soap and water covered the windows. 

According to Bro Bible, she wrote a text overlay asking, “When was my uber driver gonna tell me we were stopping at the car wash.” The video shows the car moving slowly through the wash, and when Eden turns the camera, her Uber driver looks completely unbothered.

Eden was stressed about being late for work. She wrote in the TikTok video, “Ummm like I’m bouta be late for work.” The video doesn’t show if Eden talked to the driver or how much time the stop added to her trip. But it’s clear she never agreed to the car wash detour.

Uber drivers aren’t allowed to make personal stops during rides

This isn’t just about being a few minutes late. It breaks service agreements and what passengers expect from their ride. Uber’s help center says drivers shouldn’t make stops that the rider didn’t request or plan.

West Coast Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers said that drivers making personal stops during rides break both companies’ Terms of Service and Driver Agreements. When a driver accepts a ride request, they agree to provide transportation service, not use that time for their own business. This behavior damages passenger trust and can lead to driver deactivation if reported.

There’s also a real safety issue. When drivers change the route without permission, passengers can feel unsafe and like they’ve lost control of the situation. This is a stressful way to start a workday. The law firm notes that riders have the right to a safe trip without interruptions, the right to know the planned route and arrival time, and the right to report any problems. Unfortunately, serious safety incidents have happened before when passengers trusted their rideshare drivers.

If your driver makes an unexpected stop, you should stay calm and document everything: the time, location, and what happened. Tell the driver politely that you’re uncomfortable with the detour. If the situation feels unsafe, exit the vehicle immediately and safely. Take screenshots of the route, trip summary, or receipts, and report the incident to Uber right away using the in-app help section.

However, the video caught the attention of the Uber driver’s nephew and he revealed that his uncle has a mental condition. 

“That’s my uncle and he has social anxiety sometimes he does this when the rider seems nice because it helps him . Thank you for being kind to him,” he wrote. While this situation didn’t become dangerous, riders should stay aware of their Uber driver’s actions during trips, especially when passengers are unsure about rideshare rules or proper conduct.