Photos of a ride-hailing car with a damaged boot held together by tape have gone viral, sparking concerns about safety on social media in mainland China.
A recent image shared by a netizen shows a ride-sharing vehicle with a severely dented boot driving through Qingdao, a city in Shandong province. The boot was so badly damaged that it was completely misshapen, and adhesive tape was used to secure it. The car also showed visible signs of damage, including significant scratches.
The netizen expressed their shock on Weibo, saying, “It’s frightening. It feels like this car could fall apart at any moment.”
The driver, a middle-aged woman, explained that her car was rear-ended by a drunk driver several months ago. However, the at-fault driver refused to pay for repairs, leaving the vehicle in its damaged state. To keep the boot closed for heat retention, the woman began using tape. As the temperatures dropped, photos circulating online revealed that she had used foam tape for added insulation.
Despite the car’s poor condition, the woman appears to take care of it, with one netizen even posting a video of her carefully washing the vehicle.
The woman’s identity and whether she works another job aside from driving have not been revealed.
A rider shared their experience of traveling in the car, mentioning they opted to get off early and take the subway for safety reasons. The rider claimed, “She kept dozing off while driving and suddenly braked, which scared me.”
Another user filed a complaint with the ride-hailing company, criticizing both the “terrible condition of the car” and the “poor attitude” of the driver.
As of now, the woman has not responded to the complaints about her vehicle.
The Qingdao City Transportation Bureau confirmed that the woman’s car was taken out of service on November 1 and is now being repaired.
In China, it is illegal to drive a vehicle in poor condition, with violators facing fines of up to 2,000 yuan (approximately $280) and possible suspension of their license. If a driver with a non-compliant vehicle causes an accident, they could face up to three years in prison.
The incident has sparked a wide discussion on mainland social media.
