'Drivers are not your personal chauffeurs': Passenger draws flak for leaving private-hire car door open

A passenger who alighted without closing the door behind him has drawn flak online, as netizens rallied in defence of private-hire car drivers.

A video of the incident was posted by TikTok user @iiimpermanence, with the caption: "Dear passenger, private hire drivers are not your personal chauffeurs."

The 19-second clip, filmed at a drop-off point at Marina Bay Financial Centre, shows a red car stopping at the building's entrance.

A man in a blue button-up shirt exits the vehicle and enters the building, leaving the car door ajar. The driver then steps out to close the door left open by the passenger.

The post had garnered over 253,000 views and 6,700 likes at press time.

Netizens defend driver

In the comments, some were outraged at the passenger's actions, while others joked that "time is money".

Others suggested that the company should give the passenger a warning letter, with some calling the passenger's actions "entitled".

"When I took a private hire ride, the driver mentioned that they usually try to avoid this type of 'customer'," one netizen said.

Several commenters also defended private-hire drivers, urging more respect for them.

However, some speculated that cultural differences might explain the man's behaviour. "Is he Japanese?" one netizen asked. "Taxi doors in Japan can be closed remotely by the driver."

Others agreed, recounting similar experiences in Hong Kong or China, while a few dismissed his actions as a moment of forgetfulness.

"Please close the door when you get down, don't trouble them further," one netizen said.