What did you do before?

I used to work in a company as a marketing officer but I quit after eight years to become a taxi driver. I just got bored in the corporate system and wanted to do something where I could meet people directly. Driving a cab you meet different kinds of folk, from high to low class: construction workers, white collars, celebrities and even politicians. I could have gone on doing that for years.

You must have gotten your share of drunks.

Yes. The worst is when they run away without paying.

So how did you become a driver at U Drink I Drive?

I saw this commercial on very late at night on Channel 3. So I just applied. I’ve worked here for four months now.

Did you have to train before driving your customers’ high-end cars?

Taxis are all Japanese so I was sent off to Limousine Express, which is the partner of the company, to try my hand at driving expensive European autos like Mercedes, BMWs or MINIs.

Any favorites?

I love both Mercedes and BMW. I love the SLK most, both in terms of maneuverability and speed. BMW is kind of more fun to drive, though, as the acceleration usually has more kick than Mercedes. 

Where are the hottest spots?

Fallabella. I must pick up a customer there at least once a night. It’s always crowded. Other hotspots are around Thonglor Soi 10 and Ekkamai, at places like Funky Villa, MUSE, Nanglen. Many of our customers have already gotten busted for drunk driving before so they don’t want to get in trouble again. Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest. I have 3-5 customers from 9pm-5am. 

Any memorable customers?

This one girl, who was so drunk the guys at RCA told her she was too drunk to drive home and called me. I drove her back to her condo. She was barely able to walk straight so I asked her if she’d be OK and if she needed me to take her stuff back to her room, like her laptop and bags. I ended up having to carry everything—including her. That’s our service. We treat customers like our family. And we also have small camera attached to our ear, so friends or family of the customers can monitor the situation, too. So the next day, she asked her friends, “How did I get home?” And they told her about U Drink I Drive. She was really surprised and intrigued so she called us to find out about the service.

Any message for those who are still drunk driving?

If you plan to drink, just use public transport. It’s the best option. But for ladies, I understand that there is safety issue, so ask a friend to drive you home or just call us. 

Rates are B500 for 0-5 kilometers, B550 for 5-10 kilometers, B600 for 10-15 kilometers, up to B1,500 for 50 kilometers. 091-080-9108 or  www.udrinkidrive.co.th