You heard the news: Now you can have the option to have a quiet ride with your Grab Driver, with some exceptions to the terms of the feature that would include the driver asking the important details such as directions, locations, payment methods, any instructions strictly related to the e-hailing service and the likes.
While it is an understandable reason for it as most people did not like the way some Grabcar drivers strike up conversations when the passenger is not up to engaging in one, and a lot of times some Grabcar drivers can be very intrusive and inconsiderate to the point that passengers feel harassed. Cases of sexual harassment has been reported, some were fortunate to survive to tell the tale and some are not as fortunate.
There are a number of reasons for many different people to want to choose this option, as it is still an option and not a mandatory feature of sorts. It’s like putting up a sign up to others to make it clear that you do not want to talk unless truly necessary, and then enjoy a quiet peaceful ride to your destination.
When I first read about this function being implemented, at first I was amused. But later as the news sank in and I remember the many occasions prior to this where I have been using Grabcar as my mode of transport, it did not feel right – or at least, it is not the kind of function I would really use.
Even in my most talkative nature where sometimes I would randomly start a conversation with a question as simple as: “Have you waited too long?” Or “Was it difficult to come here?” already become what I deemed as ‘ice breaker’ conversations.
The friendliest drivers would talk animatedly about their driving journey from dropping off one passenger to picking me up, sometimes they would expand a little more to talk about the many places in Kuala Lumpur roads to avoid or to explore (which were really interesting! Did you know that these Grabcar uncles have lived in some areas of downtown KL for so long, they can tell you the history of certain shops and stalls? Yes… free history lessons.)
I always enjoy and am grateful for every conversation I have with most Grab drivers. While I do have a car, there are times when it is most convenient to take a Grab, sometimes I feel lucky that I end up with a Grabcar driver who has a lot to share. Sometimes in some of my rides, I felt like I just had a heartwarming conversation with a grandfather I never had or an aunty who noticed I was going through a bad breakup and would tell me that I deserve better (happened before but it wasn’t about a bad breakup more than it was just a sour friendship).
My most memorable conversation and interaction I had with a Grabcar driver was with this uncle who picked me up from the hospital. Initially, he was complimenting my fluent Malay, moving on to other topics about life; I shared with him about my mother’s cancer condition and he opened up to me about how his father has cancer too.
As we were reaching my destination, I passively mentioned how I feel very left behind the older I get and how insecure I was about my future since I was not doing too well with my job. He asked me how old I was, I said I am already in my early thirties.
He looked at me in genuine shock, such disbelief made me think I did something so shocking that it almost scared me. Later he went on to scold me (gently): “Miss, you are only 30! You have so much to look forward to!”
As I laughed and felt warmth in my heart, he did not scold me as much as he just gave me good advice; told me that my life is just getting started, it is okay to feel insecure sometimes as they will help me understand how to move forward.
He was so genuine and so kind, when we almost reached my drop off point, I wished we talked longer.
That conversation became an imprint in one of my fondest memories of Grabcar drivers.
Another one that left quite an impression on me was just last week. A young man in his late twenties taking Grab on the side, he works as a personal trainer in a full time job. He asked me if I was at the hospital for treatment, I told him I was only there to pick up medicine this time as the doctors have prescribed me high dose steroids.
He started sharing fitness tips, later recounting a story about his friend who overdosed on high doses of steroids before (not for medical purposes) to keep up with his strict fitness regime. Along the ride to my home, he shared a lot of fitness tips on muscle building, diet tips, and much more that I never could have learned so much in just less than an hour. But more so, it was very pleasant to listen to him be that comfortable sharing his knowledge and experience with me.
It’s not all the time that you get to meet people at many different places and sometimes, unexpected networking sessions can happen in e-hailing rides.
Not to say that it’s the same for everyone really. Grabcar drivers are people, after all. There is no shortage of rude drivers just as much as there are no shortage of drivers who would usually keep it to themselves and the whole ride is literally a quiet ride.
It is very much up to an individual’s choice to use the feature or not.
I, for one, very likely will not use it because it can come quite naturally – some drivers really don’t engage at all.
But other times? I really do welcome a pleasant conversation with a Grab driver anytime.
You never know how much you can learn from them. I used to learn a cooking recipe from a driver before!
Jasmine RCK is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav.
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