Cab driver says, ‘I’m not your servant’ after passenger lights cigarette mid-ride; internet is split
A heated exchange between a cab driver and a passenger has become the latest talking point on social media, with thousands of users weighing in on where personal boundaries should be drawn during a cab ride. The viral clip has sparked conversations about passenger etiquette, respect for someone else’s property, and whether paying for a ride gives customers complete freedom inside the vehicle.Shared on X by Lakshay Mehta, the video has divided opinion online, with many backing the driver while others believe the situation could have been handled differently.
What happened inside the cab?
The video shows the driver confronting a passenger after the man allegedly lights a cigarette inside the vehicle.“Did you ask me before lighting a cigarette? Smoking is not allowed in my car,” the driver says.The passenger responded that since he had booked the taxi, he did not need permission to smoke inside it.The driver rejects that argument and says the cab is his personal vehicle. He then refuses to continue the journey.“I am cancelling the ride. I don’t want your money. Please get out of my car. I’m a taxi driver, not your servant.” The date and location of the incident have not been independently verified.
Social media largely supports the driver
The incident quickly gained attention online, with many users saying the driver was within his rights to stop the ride. Several people argued that although passengers pay for the trip, the vehicle still belongs to the driver, and his rules should be respected. Others pointed out that cigarette smoke can remain inside a car and affect both the driver and future passengers.One user wrote, “Smoking is injurious to health, & many public places have strict no-smoking rules. The driver did the right thing by refusing to allow smoking in his car.”Another commented, “A good lesson to the privileged white-collar looking down on his own countrymen.”
Others say the situation could have ended differently
Not everyone agreed with how the incident unfolded. Some users felt the driver could have asked the passenger to step outside, finish smoking, and then continue the ride instead of cancelling it.At the same time, many others felt the passenger’s response left the driver with little choice.A third wrote, “To everyone saying the driver was rude and that this wasn’t a big deal: I think part of that reaction comes from a sense of superiority, where people instinctively expect the driver to be inferior and tolerate behaviour they wouldn’t accept themselves. The passenger was also rude, but many people seem to have overlooked that. It’s similar to visiting someone’s home and lighting a cigarette inside without asking. Most people would consider that disrespectful. Why should it be any different when it’s someone else’s car?”
Some question if the video is genuine
Apart from the debate around the incident itself, a few users also suggested that the clip may have been scripted to attract engagement on social media.Disclaimer: The Times of India has not independently verified the authenticity of the video or the claims made in it.
