Reddit User Furious After Bengaluru Auto Driver Browses Instagram While Driving

A Bengaluru resident's Reddit post has gone viral after he shared a disturbing experience during what was supposed to be a routine auto-rickshaw ride. The 10-minute commute turned unexpectedly frustrating when the driver repeatedly checked his phone while driving-and even slowed down mid-ride to browse through an actress's Instagram profile.

In a post titled "Can't they keep their phones down while driving?", the user described how he had booked an auto for a short ride to his office, hoping to reach in under 20 minutes for an important call. "The office is usually just a 10-minute ride from my place, so I figured I'd make it comfortably on time," he wrote.

However, the situation quickly deteriorated. As soon as the passenger entered the auto, the driver briefly checked the route on a map but then immediately minimized it and opened Instagram instead. "He was literally scrolling with one hand while driving with the other," the user wrote.

What shocked him most was that the driver slowed down on a busy road just to open the Instagram profile of actor Sreeleela and scroll through her posts. "He actually slowed down the auto right in the middle of the main road to open her profile and scroll through her feed," the post read. "I was furious and felt completely helpless."

The post has struck a nerve on Reddit, with many users sharing similar frustrations about distracted driving. "That sounds so frustrating! Slowing down in the middle of the road to check out a celebrity's profile is just reckless," one user commented. Another added, "I've seen auto drivers suddenly slow down or pull over-almost always because they're on their phones."

Some questioned the passenger's response, asking why he didn't confront the driver or explain that he was in a hurry. "Why did you feel helpless? Did you ask him to hurry and tell him you had someplace to be early or not?" a commenter asked.

Several users pointed out that the issue isn't limited to auto drivers. "Scooty riders do the same thing," someone wrote, while another added, "Every other driver I see is on the phone. The only thing preventing more accidents is traffic itself."

One comment even suggested a possible solution: "Shouldn't auto drivers be required to switch their phones to flight mode while on duty?"

The post adds to a growing number of complaints about distracted driving in Indian cities, highlighting the urgent need for stricter enforcement and digital discipline on the roads.