A man who works as a Google Street View driver surprised internet users after revealing what he considers the most embarrassing part of his job.
The Street View service, available on Google Maps since the early 2000s, is present in more than 80 countries and has become an indispensable tool for many users.
But, although it’s fun to spot a Street View car equipped with cameras driving around the streets, it’s easy to forget that there’s a person behind the wheel responsible for driving these vehicles.
With that in mind, a Reddit user shared his thoughts about people who do everything they can to appear on camera when he is driving his car around the city.
“I have to do everything possible to prevent you from appearing in the photo. Please don’t stand in the middle of the street waiting for me to photograph you,” said the Street View driver under the pseudonym GoogleDriver419.
But, according to him, that’s not even the most embarrassing thing he experiences during his daily work. “People ask me to take pictures of them with the car, standing next to the car with the camera, etc. If I’m tired, I just ignore them,” he explained.
He revealed that many people don’t give up and keep trying to chase the car. So the driver uses the art of persuasion. “If they keep insisting, I usually pretend I’m going to take a picture of them, like a selfie, and then I just drive away.”
Taking the opportunity to answer some questions from internet users, many wondered how much a Google Street View driver earns. The user revealed that the average annual salary is around $30,000.
The workday isn’t so bad, according to him, but it depends on traffic. “The day lasts as long as needed, meaning if I collect all the data required for the day, I’m done,” he told Reddit users.
“If there’s traffic or someone is lingering, the day will take much longer. Usually, I try to avoid rush hour traffic and work non-stop outside everyone else’s schedule. Fewer people on the streets, fewer cars, much easier.”
Interested in the job? Unfortunately, the Reddit user dashed everyone’s hopes. According to him, this is not a position you can apply for.
“They don’t advertise it as a Google driver job, just as a temporary driver position. It’s random,” he explained.
Photo: Unsplash. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
