SINGAPORE — After completing more than 1,400 rides, Singaporean private-hire vehicle driver Michelle Lee has officially ended her stint behind the wheel — but not before gaining a new respect for the people who spend long hours driving passengers every day.
What started as an experiment to try something completely different eventually became an eye-opening experience that changed the way Lee viewed PHV drivers, passengers and people in general.
Her Tesla, once used for private-hire work, is now officially out of the PHV business after she removed its decals.
But the lessons from more than 1,400 rides will stay with her.
‘Why Are You Driving PHV?’
Lee shared her experience in a Facebook post on Sept. 8, reflecting on the assumptions some passengers made the moment they stepped into her car.
Some asked how much she paid to rent her Tesla.
Others simply asked:
“Why are you driving PHV?”
While Lee acknowledged that most passengers were probably just curious, the repeated questions made her think about how quickly people can make assumptions about someone’s financial situation or social status based on their job.
She said a PHV driver deserves the same respect regardless of whether they own or rent their vehicle, are driving out of financial necessity or simply choose to do the job.
The experience gave her a firsthand look at how people sometimes judge drivers before even knowing their stories.
Even Four Hours of Driving Was Exhausting
One of Lee’s biggest realizations was just how demanding the job could be.
She said she usually drove for only three to four hours a day.
Yet even that left her physically and mentally exhausted.
Behind the wheel, she had to constantly keep track of the road, other vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians, navigation, pick-up points and passengers.
All at the same time.
That experience made her think about the drivers who spend eight, 10 or even 12 hours on the road just to earn a living.
After experiencing even a small part of that routine, Lee said she could no longer dismiss the job as being “just driving.”
Because it isn’t.
Driving passengers for hours requires constant concentration, patience and awareness.
Difficult Passengers Were Part of the Job
Like many PHV drivers, Lee also encountered passengers who made the job more challenging.
Some refused to wear seatbelts.
Others asked her to stop illegally because they were running late.
There were also passengers who expected her to wait for them.
But despite the difficult moments, Lee said she did not want those experiences to define her time as a PHV driver.
Instead, it was the conversations with strangers that left the deepest impression.
‘Everyone Is Carrying Something’
Over hundreds of trips, Lee found herself listening to passengers share deeply personal parts of their lives.
People spoke about:
- Their jobs
- Their families
- Relationships
- Financial struggles
- Illnesses
- Dreams
- Regrets
Some of the conversations lasted only 15 or 20 minutes.
But they stayed with her long after the passengers had left the car.
Lee said her experience gave her what she described as a “front-row seat to humanity.”
The job showed her that behind every booking was a person dealing with something others may never see.
And that, perhaps, became the biggest lesson of all.
More Than 1,400 Rides Later, It’s Time to Move On
Eventually, Lee decided it was time to end her PHV journey.
Removing the decals from her Tesla marked the end of a chapter she never expected to become part of her life.
What began as a simple attempt to try something new ended with more than 1,400 rides and countless encounters with strangers.
Lee said she is now moving on to focus more on her money coaching project, Better Money EQ, and creating content about building a healthier relationship with money.
A Different Way of Looking at PHV Drivers
Lee’s story has resonated because it offers a glimpse into a job many passengers may take for granted.
For riders, a PHV trip may only last a few minutes.
For the driver, it can mean hours of concentration, traffic, difficult passengers and constant decision-making.
But it can also mean hearing stories from people they would otherwise never meet.
After more than 1,400 rides, Lee may have stopped driving.
But she left with a message that could change the way passengers see the person sitting behind the wheel.
A PHV driver is not “just driving.”
They are working long hours, staying alert, dealing with unpredictable situations and carrying passengers safely from one place to another.
And sometimes, for just a few minutes, they also become someone willing to listen.
After 1,400 rides, Michelle Lee didn’t just see Singapore from behind the wheel — she got a front-row seat to the lives of the people riding with her.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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