记者暗访网约车乱象：故意绕路、索要返空费……

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the growing issue of discrepancies between estimated and actual fares in the ride-hailing market, particularly focusing on the controversial practice of drivers requesting "return empty fees" for cross-city rides, which has become a common yet problematic phenomenon in the industry [1][10]. Group 1: Market Conditions - In the first half of 2025, Shenzhen's transportation authority reported 556 violations related to ride-hailing operations, a 73.21% increase from the previous year, alongside 53,526 valid passenger complaints, averaging nearly 300 per day [1]. - The average daily order completion per vehicle in Shenzhen increased from 11.82 to 12.69 orders, with 57,111 vehicles completing at least 10 orders daily, up from 48,402 [3]. Group 2: Driver Practices - Drivers are increasingly requesting additional fees for cross-city rides, citing low income due to high platform commissions and the prevalence of order transfers between platforms [3][10]. - A driver reported that the practice of requesting return empty fees has become a "hidden rule" in the industry, reflecting the financial pressures faced by drivers [3]. Group 3: Passenger Experiences - Passengers have reported being pressured to pay return empty fees, with some agreeing to additional charges out of safety concerns during late-night rides [6][7]. - A passenger experienced a significant fare increase due to a driver deviating from the planned route after refusing to pay a return empty fee, resulting in a final fare of 315 yuan instead of the estimated amount [6][4]. Group 4: Platform Responses - Ride-hailing platforms like Meituan and Didi have stated that they do not permit drivers to request return empty fees, labeling such actions as deceptive [5][9]. - Didi's customer service confirmed that while drivers can negotiate return fees, the amount should not exceed the actual highway tolls incurred, which has raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of this practice [9]. Group 5: Legal and Regulatory Perspectives - Legal experts indicate that while the collection of return empty fees may be legally permissible under current regulations, it is deemed unreasonable due to the lack of standardized pricing and the potential for exploitation of passengers [10][11]. - Recommendations include the need for regulatory bodies to prohibit the collection of return empty fees and for platforms to take responsibility for managing driver compensation more effectively [11].