More passengers are vaping and leaving their e-cigarettes in cars, according to private vehicle drivers

“I WILL NOT CONFRONT THEM”

One of the main concerns for drivers of private vehicles was getting into trouble with the law if they did not prevent passengers from vaping or if they were found to have vapes left by passengers in their vehicles.

Some, like Michael, are reluctant to scold passengers who smoke e-cigarettes. “I won’t confront them directly because they might give us a ‘one star’ rating, which affects our incentive,” he said.

Ridesharing platforms often offer monetary incentives to drivers who reach a certain number of rides. Drivers with poor customer ratings may not qualify for these incentives.

Mr Cheng said ride-hailing platforms should provide clarity on how drivers should handle passengers who vape.

“I don’t know if I would be implicated if I was just driving and he was vaping in the back,” she said.

Ride-hailing companies told CNA that instead of throwing away vapes left behind by passengers, drivers should report them to authorities.

Grab said drivers must take a photo of the vape and send it through its driver app.

“They will then need to file a police report and send a copy to Grab,” said the spokesperson. “We do not recommend that driver-partners dispose of the item immediately as it could hamper investigations.”

Gojek said its drivers have been “informed about the necessary steps to take when encountering such events” and have cooperated to assist in such cases, including delivering illegal items.

TADA also urged drivers who find anything in their cars that they suspect is illegal to hand it over to the authorities.

The platforms also said action can be taken against passengers who vape during travel, even after they have been told to stop.

If passengers refuse to comply, Grab said its drivers have the right to stop “at a suitable drop-off point” and ask passengers to exit the vehicle.

Drivers can also report vaping-related incidents on the Grab app, which can then report them to the relevant authorities.

Gojek said riders must comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stipulated in the terms and conditions of its user agreement.

“We will take immediate and firm action against any user who violates the law, including permanent suspension from our platform,” the Gojek spokesperson said.