How To Be a Good Passenger
With Summer holidays just about to start and masses of cars hitting the popular roads at once, now’s possibly the time to start considering the journeys that lay ahead, including that of a car passenger. First of all, think about how you would like your passengers to behave in your car if you were the driver, this will put you in the driver’s position and most likely make you more conscious about your actions while being a passenger yourself.
Be safe – wear your seatbelt. Do not wait for the driver to tell you to put it on, or refuse to put it on when asked to.
Co-pilot with respect and consideration. Advise the driver on the route navigation, however, do not shout or advise them too close to a turning, this can lead to the driver panicking or making a sudden turn, leading to a possible accident.
Do not be a rude backseat driver. You can always comment on someone’s driving, as long as it is constructive and advisory and is not intended as an insult, but rather as a friendly suggestion. Do not, however, attack the driver about their driving, especially if they are inexperienced, let them take their time and drive the way that is most comfortable for them, not you.
Keep all interactions with the driver considerate and not distractive. Of course, it is helpful for the driver if you want to tell them about a better and faster route, talking to the driver also stimulates them mentally, stopping them from nodding off. However, talking too loud or singing ‘annoyingly’ to the radio music can distract the driver and possibly cause an accident.
Do not be an irritating DJ. Listening to the radio while driving makes the journey more enjoyable and interactive if you also wish to sing along to it. However, do not assume that the driver wants to listen to everything that you want to listen to, it is more appropriate to allow the driver to choose the style of music that they want to listen to – most people know what kind of genre of music does not distract or irritate them. Be aware of the radio volume, if the driver needs to concentrate, help them out by turning the volume down and do not have the radio on too loud in general, as this might distract the driver during the journey.
Do not tolerate high speed. Just like the driver, you deserve to be treated with consideration and feel safe. If you notice that the driver is going above the speed limit, do not immediately shout at him or her, as they might not be aware of it themselves and only need a reminder to slow down. However, if you can see that the driver is speeding consciously and not driving safely in general, you have the full right to advise the driver to slow down and drive more carefully, if he or she is considerate then they will listen to your advice and make sure that all their passengers feel safe.
Do not tolerate drink or drug driving. First of all, it is illegal to be driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substances that alter one’s natural and vigilant state of body and mind. Failing to follow this law, a person risks losing their license and paying a hefty fine. A driver under the influence puts themselves in great danger of crashing, as well as hurting and possibly killing other people on the road and in their car. You should never agree to be in a car with a drunk or drugged driver, attempt to convince them to not drive and instead use an alternative method of getting from A to B, order them a taxi if possible. However, if the driver still refuses to not drive while under the influence, you should get out of the car and find an alternative method of transportation. As a responsible person, you should also report anyone who decides to drive under the influence to the police. Even if they are your friend, they should not be allowed to put other people’s lives in danger.