> Start the app in daylight, in an area you know well, in a time frame of several hours before you have to do anything else.
> Clean the car as if anyone who is getting into it could end your gig. They can.
> Deactivate the app as soon as you get a passenger, i.e., do not accept next ride. That's for experienced drivers who are going to take a lot of rides. That's not you, not yet. Walk into the deep end, rather than dive in.
> Drive as if you are either transporting an infant or afraid of police. Yes, there is a sense that passengers might get annoyed if you are slow, but most are much more worried about you being fast, if you catch my drift.
> Don't run yellow and red lights, don't speed more than 5-10% more than the posted limit, signal everything and take turns and braking gently. Imagine anyone in your car might have a hidden health issue, basically. You also don't get to say what you think of other drivers.
> Match and mirror the conversational level of your passenger. Error on the side of less speech. Beyond confirming the passenger and destination, this can be a quiet gig. Do it that way to start.
> Don't eat in the car. If you do it, so will the passengers. The gig doesn't pay well enough to involve cleaning up after other people.
> If your passenger is rude -- on the phone the entire time, loud, rolling down windows without asking, playing media without headphones -- accept that it's 2023, this is the rule now, and your rating matters a lot more than theirs.
> Don't chase surge price. It leads to bad driving decisions and anxiety. You are getting an intro bonus for a reason, and it's because chasing surge comes later, when you have a feel for it, and the time and area that you are driving in.
> Don't make eye contact. The roads are bad, the passengers don't like it when you eye them down, and wildlife, bad drivers, potholes and more are not going to be in your rear view mirror.
> If you feel unsafe with a passenger, remember that the app has their phone number and that 99.99999% of rides complete without incident, even in the sketchiest of neighborhoods. After they are gone, three star them so you don't have to see them again. De-escalate. Also, carry no cash.
> Don't take it too seriously. You are competing with the driving experience of other drivers, many of whom are new to the country and area, not worrying too much about customer service, or driving to maximize revenue at the expense of passengers. Just by reading this blog entry for this long, I already know you are going to be better than them, and that the job is going to become very dull very quickly, but a better than nothing source of income.
> Set time limits and stick to them. The apps are going to tell you its busy now, or that there is surge price, or that you are so close to a goal, etc. Blow that nonsense off. Set time limits and keep your sanity; otherwise, it's an endless video game that you will play until you are not safe.
> Be safe. Cancel rides if you have to, don't drive when and where you might be uncomfortable (i.e., bar closings, airports) and ease into it. One of the few joys of this gig is the flexibility. Don't let the voice in your head telling to do more (the one the app is desperately trying to stimulate) drive. That's your job.
Good luck!
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