Singapore: Cab Driver Faces Probe For Racial Abuse After Telling Passenger 'You Are Indian, You Are Stupid'

In a recent incident, a cab driver in Singapore is facing an investigation following allegations of verbal abuse directed at a woman and her daughter during a ride. The dispute reportedly arose from a misunderstanding regarding the destination, coupled with an erroneous assumption about the passenger's ethnic background.

Janelle Hoeden, a 46-year-old of Eurasian descent, recounted the disturbing encounter with the cab driver. The incident unfolded while she was accompanied by her nine-year-old daughter on a Saturday ride, as reported by The Straits Times. What makes this incident unique is Hoeden's swift thinking to document the altercation on her phone, capturing the escalating tensions.

The sequence of events began innocently enough when Hoeden booked a ride via the TADA ride-hailing platform around 2 pm on Saturday. However, things took a turn when the driver became agitated due to road closures related to the construction of an upcoming metro line in the Pasir Ris housing estate. According to Hoeden, the driver began shouting at her, accusing her of providing incorrect address details and wrong directions, PTI reported. 

In a video of the incident uploaded to various social media platforms, the Chinese driver can be seen repeatedly asserting that Hoeden's daughter fell short of the required height of 1.35 meters, which is necessary for passengers not using child seats. He even labeled the child as "very illegal." This height requirement is enforced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in Singapore for the safety of passengers, especially those in need of child restraints.

As tensions escalated, the driver resorted to using racial slurs, erroneously assuming Hoeden's ethnicity, and verbally abusing her with derogatory comments like, "You are Indian, you are stupid." In response, Hoeden corrected him, asserting her Singapore Eurasian heritage, highlighting the importance of recognizing diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Hoeden's decision to record the incident stemmed from her fear that the driver's aggression might escalate to physical violence, underscoring the significance of taking steps to document such incidents and raise awareness about them.

The incident has sparked a significant public response on social media, with many individuals condemning the driver's behavior and expressing support for Hoeden and her daughter. TADA, the ride-hailing platform, has responded by launching an internal investigation, emphasizing their commitment to zero tolerance for racism, discrimination, or any form of abuse.