subject: Picking the Right Passenger [print this page] Picking the Right Passenger Picking the Right Passenger
In a couple of months, I am supposed to be driving up to New York from North Carolina with my aunt and grandmother (and possibly my boyfriend). However, I am regretting the decision to tell my aunt that I would drive up with her and my grandmother. As awful as it sounds, when the two of them are together in close quarters, it is enough to (literally) make me want to go crazy.
In some instances, it is almost better to go it alone rather than bring someone who will only make a long trip seem that much longer. When it comes to family members, deciding whether or not to drive with someone becomes a slightly more touchy issue. After all, they are your family, and you don't want to do anything to offend them because there is a very good chance that you will be interacting with them in the future. This brings up another issue: how to tell a loved one that their driving is horrific and that it scares you.
The last time that I drove with my aunt, I thought I was going to die..several times in fact. Between all of the tailgating, which then resulted in her having to slam on the brakes every time someone else applied their brakes, and the surging in traffic, It almost felt like I was on a roller coaster ride without my harness on. Yes, it was really that bad. But how do you react when you are the passenger in what feels like a chase scene from Chips? As it turns out, I didn't say anything to my aunt about her driving even though it was right on the tip of my tongue. For future reference, if you are ever driving with someone who you know is an awful driver, there are several non-threatening, gentle ways that you can change things in your favor.
One of the best approaches to handling a poor driving situation is to suggest that you drive. Sure, you may not be the world's best driver, but your driving is probably a lot better than what that other person's driving is like. Another suggestion is to simply offer to "meet up" with that person at the designated location. If you are planning a long drive, find out ahead of time what kind of person you are dealing with. If they are someone who prefers to be behind the wheel, you might offer the excuse that it probably would be best to take separate vehicles since you prefer to drive as well. You don't want to necessarily feign car sickness as an excuse to get behind the wheel, but you want to make it clear that you prefer to do the driving. Another option would be to try to bring someone else along who you trust behind the wheel. Tell that person your plan of action and then have them offer up to do some of the driving as well.
