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 "empty return fees" in the ride-hailing market, emphasizing the need for regulatory measures to prohibit such fees and impose penalties on violators [1][15]. Group 1: Current Market Situation - In Shenzhen, the number of ride-hailing operational violations increased by 73.21% year-on-year, with 55,556 cases reported in the first half of 2025 [2]. - Passengers have filed 53,526 effective complaints, averaging nearly 300 complaints per day, indicating significant dissatisfaction with the current ride-hailing services [2]. - Common complaints include "deliberate detours" and "cross-city empty return fees," which have become frequent issues reported by passengers [2]. Group 2: Driver Experiences - A driver reported that due to declining fares over the past two years, requesting empty return fees has become a common "unwritten rule" in the industry [6]. - The average daily order completion per vehicle in Shenzhen increased from 11.82 to 12.69 orders, with the average daily order amount rising from 449.16 to 456.67 yuan [6]. - Drivers often justify requesting empty return fees by citing the high commission rates charged by platforms, which they claim reduce their overall income [6]. Group 3: Passenger Experiences - Passengers have reported being asked for additional empty return fees, leading to significant discrepancies between estimated and actual fares, with one instance resulting in a fare of 315 yuan instead of the expected amount [9][10]. - A passenger expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and the inability to report or contest these additional fees effectively [10]. - The practice of requesting empty return fees has reportedly increased significantly this year, with passengers feeling pressured to comply due to safety concerns [10]. Group 4: Platform Policies - The article discusses how platforms like Didi have implemented policies allowing drivers to negotiate return fees, which has led to confusion and dissatisfaction among passengers [11]. - A passenger noted that the platform's policy effectively allows for double charging, as the fare already includes long-distance fees [11]. - Legal experts argue that while the collection of empty return fees may be legal under current regulations, it is inherently unreasonable and leads to exploitation of passengers [13]. Group 5: Recommendations for Improvement - Legal experts recommend that regulatory bodies should establish policies to ban empty return fees and impose penalties for violations [15]. - Platforms are urged to take responsibility for pricing and improve the prioritization of return orders to mitigate income loss for drivers without burdening passengers [15]. - The article emphasizes the need for platforms to manage the situation better to prevent escalating conflicts between drivers and passengers [15].