Image via Hyundai
An Uber driver from Flagstaff, Arizona got more than he bargained for after taking his brand new Hyundai on an off-road trail. He picked up his passengers from tiny Munds Park, saying he followed Uber’s navigation directions on what at first appeared to just be a scenic dirt road.
Maybe the Uber driver should’ve bought an old Porsche Cayenne to go off-roading?
Instead of arriving in Sedona after the promised 20-minute drive, his brand new Hyundai Venue crossover didn’t make it. Part of the plastic cladding on the rockers was ripped off, thanks to the thing not having the ground clearance for such a drive, plus a tire was brutally shredded on the rock-riddled trail.
That trail, called Schnelby Hill, is a popular route for off-roaders who want to check out nature’s beauty in the Sedona area. Why the Uber app took the driver along that instead of Interstate 17 is a mystery.
But what we really want to know is why the guy continued along the trail instead of backtracking. We’ve personally started on trails that were of a supposed level of difficulty, only to realize it was beyond the capabilities of our rig, opting to turn around and go back to the trailhead.
There’s no shame in doing that. But there can be shame involved in pushing on and your vehicle failing. In this case, the driver’s brand new Hyundai was damaged, although thankfully it doesn’t sound too bad. At least he didn’t roll it.
The guy is understandably upset about the financial fallout of the decision to press on. But he wants Uber to pay for the damages.
He’s hardly the first person to unquestioningly follow the driving route provided by a navigation app, ignoring real-world indications it’s not a good way to go, the trip ending in disaster. But does Uber bear the responsibility here or is it the driver?
If you don’t own an off-roader and a dirt road starts to get a little wild, our advice is to turn around, go back, and find a paved way to your destination.
Image via Hyundai
